Toni's Homemade Goodies

Answers to frequently asked questions

Toni’s Frozen Cookie Dough

Q: Can I eat the raw cookie dough?

A: We do not recommend it. Our cookie dough is meant to be baked and then eaten.

Q: Can I bake the frozen cookie dough with my kids?

A: Absolutely! :) Since we’ve taken the trouble of measuring and mixing off of your hands, you can now bake with your kids without worrying about the mess or whether the recipe was followed to the letter. My nephew, Bryan, does it well.
Being able to bake 7-minuite cookies with Toni is a great bonding experience. Sometimes, she even watches the cookies as they bake in the toaster oven.

Q: In your baking instructions for frozen cookie dough, why do you have a range for baking time? Why not just specify the exact baking time?

A1: First of all, different people like different textures and doneness of cookies. Some like it soft while others like it crispy. Some, like me, prefer cookies that are chewy on the outside and soft on the inside. Some like their cookies barely baked while others like them slightly burned.

A2: Second, toaster ovens come in various sizes and wattage. Different ovens give different results given the same dough and baking time. Some principles to remember are:

The smaller the oven, the faster it heats up.
For single-dial ovens, the higher the wattage, the higher the temperature.

Q: Why do we need to flatten thawed cookie dough? How much do we flatten them?

A: Flattening the dough helps the cookie spread. How flat to make it depends on how you like your cookies. If you like it soft, don't flatten it so much. If you like it crispy, flatten it really well, up to about 7mm. Some, like me, prefer cookies that are chewy on the outside and soft on the inside. To do that, you flatten the dough to about 1cm. Remember though:

The flatter the dough, the greater the surface area, the crispier the cookie... and the easier it burns.
Take note of how flat you like them to eliminate the guesswork the next time around.

Toni’s Baked Cookies

Q: How long do baked Toni’s cookies last?

A: If you can keep from eating them … and you put them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, they’ll last for about 5-7 days. But if you keep them in the freezer, they’ll last for months.

Q: Can I reheat baked cookies?

A: Yes, just put them in the microwave for 30 seconds on high.

Q: What makes your Outrageous Peanut Butter Cookies so great?

A: I make the peanut butter from scratch using high grade peanuts that my mother-in-law brings all the way from Iligan City. My brother Glen finds it irresistible.

Chewy Cereal Bars

Q: What's the history of Toni's Chewy Cereal Bars?

A: We have been making these bars for about 8 years now. We originally used them as personal trail food on our mountaineering trips. The idea to use them as trail food came from my sister-in-law, Kim. The basic recipe may have come from the internet, but all the add-ons are purely ours.

In 2003, our house burned and our friends in UP Lakay encouraged us to sell the bars to help ourselves get back on our feet.

The bars have now evolved as a general energy-giving snack for kids and adults. My nephews bring them to school for baon. Although we haven’t been climbing since 2005, we still enjoy the cereal bars on long trips.

Q: Do I need to be an athlete to enjoy the Chewy Cereal Bars?

A: Of course not. If you can eat breakfast cereal, you can enjoy Toni's Chewy Cereal Bars.

Q: Where have the cereal bars been tested?

A: The Chewy Cereal Bars have been tried and tested in Sumaguing Cave in Sagada, Mt. Pulag , Mt. Pinatubo, Mt. Apo, and Mt. Pao in Laoag.

Q: How long do Chewy Cereal Bars last?

A: Keep them in an air-tight container at room temperature and they’ll last for several weeks.

Q: What is Granola?

A: Granola is a high-fiber mixture of cereal, wheat, nuts and dried fruit. There are several benefits of high fiber foods, namely: the prevention of constipation, lowering cholesterol, weight loss management and many more.

Q: Do kids enjoy Granola?

A: Absolutely! Of all Toni's Chewy Cereal Bar varieties, my nephew, Raffy loves Granola the most.

General questions

Q: Who is Toni?

A: Toni is my daughter. She turns 3 this November.

Q: How can I order?

A: Type your name and land line and send to 0918-9416552. I’ll call you. Alternatively, send us an email <TonisHomemadeGoodies@gmail.com> or <TonisHomemadeBakedGoods@gmail.com> with the same information.

Q: I am based outside Manila, can I still order?

A: Yes. Send an email to TonisHomemadeGoodies@gmail.com containing your full name, complete mailing address and contact numbers. We require 75% down payment on the products and full payment of shipping costs. I prefer shipping via 2GO. I’ve been relying on their services for years now. I will be uploading more information for clients outside Manila soon.

Q: I am based overseas, can I still order?

A: Yes. But we only take orders with recipients located within the Philippines. Send an email to TonisHomemadeGoodies@gmail.com containing your full name, complete mailing address and contact numbers. We require 75% down payment on the products and full payment of shipping costs. I prefer shipping via 2GO. I’ve been relying on their services for years now. I will be uploading more information for overseas clients soon.

Q: Do you use artificial sweeteners on your products?

A: No, we only use natural sugar.

Q: Do you still have clients outside Manila?

A: Sadly, no. My good friends in Laoag are focusing on environmental efforts. The Cebu prospect did not push through.
Other than the coop mini-store that I bring to, I currently have no regular clients.

I am hoping for regular clients in and out of Manila. :)

Q: How much are your shipping rates?

A: I don’t have a vehicle and I have a day job. So, I rely on door-to-door delivery services. Rates vary depending on the weight and volume of the orders. For provincial clients, we recommend ordering in bulk to maximize the shipping costs. Shipping information for Manila clients will be available soon.

Q: Why are we requested to order 2-3 days in advance?

A: Our products are made-to-order to ensure freshness.

Q: Why don’t you publish your location?

A: I have a day job. I bake from home during nights and weekends to augment my income. It wouldn’t be right for me to publish our address since I won’t be there during the day.

Q: Where are you located? Is it easy to find your place?

A: We are located near the UP Shopping Center. Yes, it is easy to find our place. For exact location, contact 0918-9416552.

Q: Do you have a store?

A: No. But we occasionally sell baked cookies and cereal bars at UPSE Employees Multipurpose Cooperative.

Q: What’s with the Bible verse at the bottom of each page?

A1:The short answer is: I belong to Jesus.

A2: Actually, those are lyrics from Steve Green's gospel song "He who began a good work in you". It's based on Philipians 1:6 "being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." The song means a lot to me, obviously. I am neither religious nor infallible. I am a work in progress.

He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.