Customized

So, as of late.. I have been trying to push the envelope, in terms of my baking adventures. Well, I have always wanted to be able to make em' fondant figurines etc. But I have been lacking in cake covering in fondant skills.

They always tend to appear.. 'bubbly'.

I kid you not. See here is a cake I did for a colleague at work. Bubbly. Grrrr.... But I'm definitely having fun with fondant toppers! So covering cakes aside, I think I'm quite content with my development re: fondant toppers. 

The ones below are customised toppers for my husband's relative. I'm loving the mini fondant cupcakes, don't you? Oh yeah.. My handwriting still needs a whole lot of improvement, LOL! 

I think I needed to let these dry more before putting on the cupcakes. They kinda wilted a bit upon touching the cold frosting! 

Haaaa, these (below) were made for a friend's son's birthday party! Loved the opportunity to make these toppers. She only had to tell me the theme, and I... went crazy! Haha.. You gotta have matching toppers with the cake, no? 

Note the dim looking picture. When did you think these were made? In the middle of the night of course! Haha! 

Also made macarons for the event!  

Finally... a smooth covered cake! Weehooo! I was so excited with the finishing. The mini make-ups on it were definitely a plus point too! Have always wanted to make this design, so who better to make it for, than ze bestfriend who can never have enough make-up. She has a good stash at her work desk. I can definitely rely on her for make-up supplies should I need to get ready at the office for a wedding! 

I think I've learnt a thing or two from my past mistakes. But I definitely still need more practice!

xx

New Year

Happy New Year!

Yeah, about 14 days too late?

It's as if I forgot this page existed. Almost. So many things happened that I do not know where to begin. How is the new year treating you so far?

Alhamdulillah, for us.. this year marks the new beginning for our small family of four. We have tonnes planned for the year! Finances to juggle, we are not planning any holidays (yet) for this year. We're putting it aside for something big, supposedly to materialize by mid this year, God willing. Stay tuned for that news!

On another note, baking slowed down nearing the year end and went to a complete halt during the new year as I was down with mastitis the whole of last week. Yeah, not fun having to MC for the first few days of the working calendar.

But I'm on the mend and planning to start-off with a bang! Back to baking frenzies it seems!

Gah, it's only 9.45am

Back to work first then..

xx

PInata Cake!

No, not a cake that needs bashing! 

It's supposed to be a pinata cake so when you cut it open.. the goodies inside should flow out, as below (pictured cake is not mine! source=google)

So that is how it SHOULD look like. Yeah you guessed it. Mine did not FLOWWWW like how I imagined, and unfortunately, how I explained it to husband. After the cake was cut he turned to me and said... 

"where's the (insert hand gestures describing explosion)?" Yeah.. that was how I described a pinata cake should be. Grrrrr.. But before that, let's go through my experience making it (with joy and full of hope!!)

As usual, watched a bunch of tutorial beforehand, before actually attempting to make this. Even envisioned the cake to be covered in HOME-MADE marshmallow fondant. Yes, very ambitious this woman. So the cake took no time to bake. Even managed to squeeze-in dinner after whilst waiting for it to cool. Well, after the kids went to bed is when mummy started to partay!!

Out comes my spatula. 

Efficiency is key. Remember how we had dinner before? Yeah, at the same time I took out the butter and cream cheese to let them come to room temp. This is so when I actually wanted to start completing my cake, everything is ready! Made strawberry cream cheese this time, and it tastes... OH SO LOVELY!! (if I do say so myself ;).. ). So cake cooled, and I started to make it into a sort of pinata like, using M&Ms assortment bought earlier.

Don't you just LOVE the look of M&Ms in the cake?? 

I think I'm getting a hang of slabbing frosting on cake, and covering it like how I see it done on TV/Youtube. Good times. Done frosting, to the fridge it goes! (12.00am)

Proceeded to make my marshmallow fondant...

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

1.05am - Chucked the whole lot into the bin...

(-____-)

Could not get it to work. So sticky. So gooey. Sooooo.. Tiring! I kneaded and kneaded and it looked fine! It wasn't until I started rolling it that everything went downhill. Thankfully I have other fondant on-hand. Decided to just make the best out of it... and went to bed...

at 3.00am..

Kesimpulan, NEVER making my own marshmallow fondant again! Yes, I love the idea because apparently it tastes so much better than normal fondant. But..... I think I need to try again.. and NOT the night before. 

Well, I loved how it turned out (outside). Will need more M&Ms for next time though. But definitely one I'll add to my list. 

The guests loved it so that's important ;) 

xx

Buttoned beauties

Oh yes, that's what I call my small, cute, button-shaped lovelies.. macarons :) 

Belive me when I tell you, these are finicky, temperamental and most definitely a keeper! Haha, I've had my share of ups and downs with them. Cracked, no feet, u name it. So I guess knowing the right 'mix', and getting the steps right are what makes them, special.

After the first time making them, I turned to the husband and said..

'I'm never complaining if people are charging a fortune for these ever again!'

Really. Don't complain. Hahah! They're so tough to get right (for me, perhaps). After getting to know my oven etc.. getting the right not-under-mixed-not-over-mixed batter.. and the oh so expensive almond flour (the main ingredient!)... yeah, my wallet do not like macarons so much. BUT the happiness feeling you get after a successful batch is... WOW! amazing! I think I could've developed wings and fly...

all the way to the US!! 

A recipe given by my ex-classmate from highschool. Makes PERFECT macarons every.single.time. She's a trained chef and I can never thank her enough for sharing. Mental note to give her awesome gift when she comes back to visit :) Although it involves a wee bit more washing up... I think for now I'm contented with the 'italian' method. Will be experimenting the 'french' method soon (read=less dishes, less complicated). 

Cos' you know I'm about easy, efficient baking ;) 

xx

p/s: still working on making a multi-colored batch. yeah, those above are from 2 separate batches... with TONNES of leftover (-__-) So stay tuned! 

Luxury

Ok, I have no control.

I have NO IDEA why I am looking at this. Granted, my GF1 was bought back in 2010. So, it's already about 4 years old. But but but.... this one has new added features, faster processor, better engine, pop-up flash that TILTS upwards, wifi connectivity.... AND I can still use my current pancake lens with this one! etc etc etc (no intention to go into technical details, saving that for my own reading pleasure)

Source: Google Images

Online, it retails about RM1299, that's the cheapest I've found so far. 

Under normal circumstances, I would be selling my current camera to cut the cost for a new purchase. Call it lessening the guilt trip eh? Since I can't find the box to the old GF1, selling it would be a much more difficult task than earlier anticipated. 

Any limbs to sell anyone?

xx

Food poisoning

Ok, was discharged from the hospital on Saturday. Doc wanted to 'detain' me for another day but I insisted and promised that I'll be glued to the bed, take my fluids and eat em' medicine. Can't stand being away from Aaron much longer. One night is too much!

For this clingy mummy...

So yeah, had a bout of food poisoning. We weren't sure as to the exact origin of it, but it did leave me crying on the toilet bowl thinking I was already about to give birth (yes, it was that painful) and vomitting what seemed like internal organs and... Blood!

Off to the hospital it is then! Apparently the blood was caused by some 'luka' inside. Possibly from too much vomitting plus gastric (losing too much and not being able to take in much). Plus my white cell count was high - hence the antibiotic. Apparently the numbers usually spike when your body is trying to fight off infection within.

Day 4 of porridge diet. Meh. But I have been gaining my appetite, so much so that I think I've crossed the point of caring. Okla, slightly depressed when I look into the mirror and I no longer see the 'line' that separates my jaw from my neck...

*crying buckets!!

Bahhhhhhh!!! Ok whatever. *munching on bread because I'm too hungry to wait for the porridge to cook*

Xx

Faith and self-limitation

"Why do we have faith? Why do we even need faith?"

These are just some of the questions that have always been lingering around for centuries. Although they may not be such issues discussed openly these days (people are now more interested in news of the economics, politics etc), but they are still.. one of the few questions posed by both believers and non-believers alike.

So why?

I may not be a scholar, nor a preacher. I may not even be very 'holy' (if there is such a word?).. I do what I have to do, I follow those principles which I believe in, try to reasonably stay away from those things forbidden (hey, I'm not perfect ok!).. But I do try..

But my point is, from my experiences thus far, faith is one of the most crucial traits to have. It may not be something you can buy from shops, but is definitely something that you can nurture, build and strengthen. For me, everything happens for a reason. I was taught that we are never tested with things beyond our level of comprehension (the level of which, is only known by Him).. Everything that we are tested on, are things to teach us lessons about life..

It is with faith, that we know our self-limitation. It is with faith, that we know how to have fun, and when to stop. It is with faith that we see that clear line (which was once grey), between right and wrong..

Personally, I have been given some tests (which may be considered minor as compared to others), which presents me with those instances where my faith are really tested.

Although most times I manage to succeed, I do sometimes fail.

But I always remind myself, that failures do not necessarily mean that it's the end. There's always a chance to regain ones self. Always a chance to redeem.. And above all, not all 'failures' that you see in other people are generic.

Generic in the sense that if a person does one kind of horrible (too extreme?) thing, then all his/her friends must do the same.. JUST because him/her is somehow connected to that wrongdoer...

WHY?? It's not ALWAYS the case.. hence my theory.. faith gives you knowledge.. knowledge on your self-limitation.. If you don't know the extent of ones faith, don't judge his/her self-limitation.. He/she might actually turn out to be a MUCH better person than you are..

So think..