Project 2012!

Hey all!

I am back with a whole new layout, and whole new idea for 2012! In case some are already starting to wonder why I've been lying low and not updating my blog too much, I figured I am still more of a baker than a writer.

However, I will still be updating this site with new creations that I churn out from time to time.

Friends around me already know that I've embarked on a new little project, allowing me to hone my skills in my passion, and hopefully be able to accumulate some earnings to upgrade my kitchen equipment in time to come. So my next aim is to save whatever token amount I receive from my custom bakes to buy my very own Kitchen Aid! I have already been eyeing them for a long long time, but am too much of a cheapskate to buy it yet.

I have to declare that I am far from professional, and there are times where I am not really satisfied by what I create, for example this cake below:

Notice that the colours were already bleached from the smarties after a night in the fridge, and that the frosting didn't turn out as smooth as I wanted. I made a butterscotch filling between chocolate sponge, but I also didn't get to see it after it was cut, so hopefully it turned out fine. Well, at least now I know what not to do the next time!

I hand-made this little box because for some reason, its not easy to find cake-boxes in this small town, and I had to do like a commercial bulk order if I wanted proper ones. Anyways I thought it was kind of personalised and sincere to make one myself. 

And here's another cake that I made for a friend, the first one that I got paid to be exact, and I was quite happy with it. It was simple, and elegant. 

I have lots more to improve, and there are lots of nitty gritties to learn about baking. So follow me as I "show off" my creations here and do support me if you can! :)

Stressed day = Strawberry shortcake day

I had forsaken my blog for other forms of writing the past month, namely, my THESIS. After the months years, well its complicated to define the timeline because I WORK and STUDY at the same time, I am finally and hopefully nearing the end of my master's research in Germany. Haven't gotten round to deciding if I want to jump into the arduous journey of a PhD yet, or bum around for a while and shift my experimental focus on my passions (baking and cooking and styling).

Anyways, since Valentine's day, I made a couple of batches of cupcakes for my labmates, but I felt it was too cliché to exhibit them on the blog because EVERYBODY was doing that, hence it has been awfully quiet over here.

Two days ago, three hours after I was furiously typing away at my materials and methods section of my thesis, I decided it was time to get out of the house and do a little bit of grocery shopping. When I saw this, I knew what I had to make.

I practically felt myself salivating while picking up this crate of bright and shiny berries. So home I went in glee, and encroached into my writing schedule to prepare the cake that would make me so happy.

Oh yes this pretty confection with luscious strawberries and whipped cream did lift my spirits, and joy has to be shared with all. :)


P.S: I was not really happy with the sponge cake I made, so pardon me for not posting the recipe just yet. It was a bit dense even though I whipped the whites separately before folding in the rest of the ingredients. Frosting was using crème chantilly. 

I love all things Taro

I usually cook/bake more than I can write about, and sometimes, I just can't find enough inspiration to blog about them. Take for example the pineapple tarts we made, with the help of a wonderful colleague who wanted to experience the traditions of the Chinese New Year with us; they turned out beautiful, and received full praise from asian friends we celebrated the New Year with - crumbly and melt-in-the-mouth cookie, not-too-sweet hand grated filling full of pineapple goodness.

Well, here's a sneak peak, but I can't really blabber too much about it.

Yesterday, I finally made something I have been craving for ages. In fact, I always crave for it. If you read about our Amsterdam trip, you would know that we hauled back loads of stuff back from there. Fresh, dried, preserved, oriental - whatever we desperately needed to satisfy our hungry asian stomachs, we bought it. There was an amazing Asian market opened by cantonese folks, and we were so amazed at the variety of condiments and food items they had there, that we spent 2 hours browsing there, and went back 2 times a row within the 4 days we were there. PL spotted my all time favourite item - the YAM (or some places they are called taro, but I think it depends on the variety or the country you are in).

Saying that I have a soft spot for yam is an absolute understatement. I am crazy about it. Sorry PL, if I had to choose, I would say YAM. :) This addiction goes to the point where I would scrutinise menus at people's wedding dinners for the dessert item (it is common for sweet yam paste to be served during chinese banquets). When I dine at dim sum restaurants, I would not be missing out on yam puffs.

Our yam had been sitting in our kitchen shelf for almost 3 weeks, staring at me everyday until I could not hold back anymore, and I mashed them up to prepare a yam cake. My mother-in-law prepared it before when we were still back home, and we re-confirmed the procedure with her, and I stripped it of its skin, and the yam chunks, fried with garlic, and combined with rice flour were on the steamer within the hour.

Its silly but I love yam so much, that I have come to love even the colour. I love purple/lavender/violet because of yam. Its an obsession, but it doesn't hurt right?