Cake Balls

Use the left over Rich Chocolate Cake that i bake on Thursday evening,
and made them into Cake Balls, for Granny Bday celebration.

It was fairly easy,
the method is similar to Cake Pops,
just that this time round, i didnt stick a stick/pick into the balls.

Cake Pops was actually brought into trend by Bakerella.
Can find out more from her website,
she does them in all sort of beautiful & whimsical design.
I manage to stumble upon it one fine day while browsing some food blog.
I have wanted to try it cos it looks so simple & darn pretty.
My first time trying it turn out kinda disaster. lol...
The chocolate cake base together with peanut butter frosting,
was simply CRAZY & ultimate WRONG match.
Guess i was pretty lazy after a round of baking that night,
so i simply tried it out with what frosting i have on hand, peanut butter...

Now that i have gone thru all the correct step/method of doing it,
and really put effort into making them,
they turn out real good.
See, food do have a temperament of their own.
If u dun love what you're doing & put ur heart into in,
they wont turn out good..
Thats why, im always so bend on doing all the mixing, shaping, baking myself.
And thats the reason my mum / Chun always complain
when i really need their help,
i'll nag that its out of shape, proportion, is wrong etc... lol..
and then they'll give up, dun help me any more...

All about Cream

This is a confusion, at least always to me.
Esp true for double, single & thicken cream.
So i decided to do a little research so i can easily come back to.
Found this great table from here.
It have clearly listed out the different amount of fat content
for the different type of cream.

Click on table for better resolution table

Chocolate Cake Pops

Cake Pops (thru Digitally Filtered Lens)

Set out to bake a uber sinful mini chocolate cake for J.
In the end, made Chocolate Pop instead with the cake.. lol..

Its a eventful twist of fate.
I have been thinking of the cake for several days.
Then came to the conclusion of individual serve cake for the 3 of us.
Even thought of the design of the cake.
Then came the problem of frosting.
No fridge, what frosting to use le...
Chocolate coating best liao.
But cos its a chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting will be very dry.
So i decided to make some chocolate ganache.

Then came the second problem,
cck no stock / never sell single cream. DIE!!
So i ask Darling go out walk walk at railway mail.
Reach there then realise that no more Bulla single cream,
only stock there was a brand i never heard of.
Further more its on discount,
cos its near expiry date, 2 Mar 2010.. lol..
No choice so bought that & Bulla thicken cream, for backup.

Went home, start mixing butter & sugar.
When i add in the eggs,
the mixture look like they are separating..
Disgusted, i threw the first batch away.
Then started on second batch, same problem.
Then i think back, "did i have the same prob last time".
Then i thought, maybe never mind de.
So i went ahead and add i the flour etc.
the batter turn out all right, at least to me.

The next problem is with the ganache.
The ganache with single cream is simply too liquid.
Cannot use it to frost the cake without it dripping all over.
So in the end gave up that idea. Very down already.
Dunno why, this time round, my cake baking turn out a disaster.
So in the end i have a PLAIN chocolate cake that i cut out into mini size standing.
Chocolate ganche that i cannot frost the cake with.
So i went ahead with last resort,
coat the cake with chocolate coating then do monogram design on it.
But the coating takes forever to dry up,
and its past 12am already....

Looking at the crumbs i have,
i decided to try making cake pops that i have read up a month ago.
to my surprise, it works...
But the thing is, i canot try the pops last night,
cos its still drying, the taste will be different.

So i pack up the pops into nice boxes that i have collected (lucky me),
then this morning, i tried the pops,
They were delicious!!!
Its small, but cos the cake & ganache itself was
made with Valrhona 70% dark chocolate, the taste was very dense & sinful.
It's my second try at cake pop,
the first time fail terribly with peanut butter as a binding gel.

I use the Rich Dark Chocolate Cake Recipe by Peggy Porschen,
and also the Belgian Chocolate Ganache by her.
Good ingredients, really never fail me so far.
And i'm really falling in love with valrhona's chocolate,
they simply gave outstanding result, every single time i use it.
Have to stock up on Guanaja & Equatorial soon at Shermay's.

Changi Sailing Club

Saw a seagull gliding

1 of PICO's many sail

Went to Changi Sailing Club for CNY visiting to James's family.
This time of the year, and also the only time that
we get to meet up with James family members.
We dun meet up with his family on normal days,
only on special occasion like CNY.
So its still kinda hard for me to remember all his family members names.
And even the ranking of the uncles & aunts.

They usually will rent a chalet,
and everyone will gather there.
Normally, we will stay there for a few hours.
Me & mum uaully spend the time chomping away on nuts,
watching TV, and doing nothing else.
Cos, basically, i dun really like doing must "entertaining"
nor am i those type that like to "xian liao" with random ppl.

This time round, since its just next to the sailing club.
Thus we went round the sailing club taking photos & just stroll.
This is also the first time, i brought darling along.
I think i have miss the last 2 years gathering cos i have something on.

There's many ang moh there.
I think they're mainly those rich ppl,
family spending their weekend sailing,
reading, sipping champagne while their hubby & son sails.
I even spotted 3 girls sitting on top of a surf board,
bopping & laughing away... i really cant understand that.
Anyway, we reach teh chalet at 2plus, and left at 4plus...

After which me & darling adjourned to Yap house & thereafter Loon hse.
Gambling away at Bacala, darling lost all we have, which is not much, at Yap house.
Then at Loon house, i decided to try my luck,
and lucky me won some $$..
Darling also manage to win back all that he'd lose at Yap..
Went home at 2plus am...
The next day woke up at 10am,
to bake Ben's cake.

Evening met up TRT for dinner,
went Glenn hse gamble again...
Tired...

Mini Cheese Cup

As requested by Ben for his bday celebration.
Bake 2 batches of cheese cake for his suprise bday party at MacDonalds.
Yup, didnt get me wrong, its MACDONALD for his 30th Bday!!!
The entire party was plan by his wife like almost a month ago.
And when i met him at XH's bday party,
he kept asking if he'll be having cheesecake for his bday.

So i manage to fullfill his fantasy of cheesecake for his bday.
I didnt bake the usual full size,
cos this was initially a outdoor party,
which was adjourned to Mac.
Thus, taking into consideration of the hassle of
cutting & distributing the sliced cake,
i bake them in muffin cups.
I use the receipe that never fails me.
I have previously bake a super mini with another smaller muffin cups.
That was really cute & seriously tiny, a mouthful each only.
So this time round, i bake them in normal muffin size cup,
so that i can have less batter in them,
and stack the cakes ontop with cake board in between.

Bake 2 batches, which yield me 28 standard cups, 3/4 full.


Mini Cheese Cup

Filling
1. 500g of cream cheese
2. 110g sugar
3. 2 large eggs
4. 1 tsp vanilla extract
5. 120g sour cream

Direction
1. Preheat oven at 150deg, & fill muffin cups with crust
2. Beat cream cheese till smooth, add sugar till well combined
3. Add in eggs, one at a time, beating 30sec for each
4. Add vanilla extract & sour cream & beat till well combined
5. Spoon mixture into muffin cups & bake for 16min.
6. Remove from oven when cooked & cover with cling wrap to chill for a few hours

开工!!!!

2 bosses praying for a 顺利 tiger year ahead!!

Workers collecting their ang bao happily

Today is the offical day my company 开工..
Its considered late liao,
last year, we 开工 on the 4th.
According to one of my colleague,
we must go to office, on laptop, check email,
and make some noise to signify 开工...

I have just prayed to 土地公,
paste 开工 sticker all over site..
Wishing that i will have a smooth n pleasant work ahead.
Later in the morning,
will adjourned to another site at marina to pray,
and probably settle lunch there then can go home liao... hehe..
This week, only have to work 1.5days.. so happy!
But next week onwards, no more holidays...
My safety course also starting on 1st March,
going to get busy liao..
Almost forget have to apply for my master course,
try my luck, see can get in or not.

恭喜发财 2010!!!

Its been busy every day since my last post..
Wed is the official last night of CNY baking.
Thurs is the first night of feasting...

11/02/10
James invited his colleague over for 收工 lunch.
The gambling session also starts that day.
Came home seeing more then 20pairs of shoes cramp outside my gate,
and a house FULL of ppl surrounding the table, gambling... lol..
Had BBQ steamboat at home that night.

12/02/10
Chun's sis 21st bday.
Didnt manage to bake her cake cos waa really busy with CNY baking.
Had my first reunion dinner with mum's side of family.

Followed by buffet at chun house for his sis 21st bday.

BBQ Reunion Dinner at Granny

XH's 21st Bday

13/02/10
Went for ym own family reunion luncheon at Zhou's Kitchen,
Square 2 with granny.
Did a little last min shopping ard there for Jack's & James's shoe.
After that went home to try out my Fa Gao recipe.
Didnt Fa very nicely, and the taste wasn't good.
Evening adjourned to granny's house to have reunion dinner w dad.
Homecook food by granny, and some catchup with daddy.
Then last stop, chun house for another round of reunion BBQ steamboat.
This year we have a new addition to the family, Hui's bf, Andy.
Play a few round of BINGO and i won 4 rounds!!! haha..
Good start for teh new year..

Lunch at Zhou's Kitchen

Reunion Dinner with Chun's Family

14/02/10
Woke up at 9am.
Prepared & went over to Chun house to 拜年 first.
Afterwhich the whole family went over to my house to
拜年 with my parents.
This is also the first time, chun family came over to visit my family officially..
haha... kinda weird, but it went smoothly..
Then we go our seperate ways,
we went to my mum's mother's house for lunch,
which i didnt touch anything, cos i'm on vegan that day.
Then i switch over to my dad's mum house
to visit my granny & daddy.
Play a few rounds of MJ & had some food with daddy.
The next stop for dinner, my ah gong house.
And finally the last stop is chun's uncle house.

Me & Daddy

My Family

Grandpa & his Grandchildren

Chun's Family

15/02/10
Lunch with chun's dad family at Boon Lay Raja Restaurant.
Then went to visit the uncle's daughter new house at TPY, 40 storey hdb.
The house was very tiny, but the view was great,
can see the flyer!!!! & the wind was so so strong in windy in the living room.
they're so lucky, manage to get 38th storey for their first ballot!!!!
I wish i had luck like their's for the coming result!!!! hehe...
Only stayed a while there cos i had to rush over to Jenny's
for the lion dance at 3.30pm.
When i reached, the dance troup was already there & waiting for me!!! haha..
This yr, the lion color was so striking & pretty, pink!!
Left shortly after the dance, cos i still have to rush over to
granny house again, for chun to 拜年 to ah ma.
Dinner was at Judy's house,
with a great spread of expensive n beautifully laid out dishes as usual.

Lion Dance @ Jenny's

Lo hei @ Judy's

16/02/10
拜年 at Kampu house in the morning.
Then went vistin to chun's parents uncle then
we head down to River Hong Pao in the evening.
Its freaking warm & hot & sunny & pack with ppl.
The food there, basically a RIP off... nothing special...
The lantern this yr also kinda sucky, not pretty one. lol...
Dinner at Baohua house, Mee Siam & chicken Rendang.
then last stop at Ah Thai house, gamble then went home...
Phew... finally the most busy days have ended...
Coming weekend still got fren's house visit & James family chalet..

River Hong Bao

Butter Biscuit

Bake one batch of vegan butter biscuit for my granny
who is having vegan on the 1st.
The one batch of dough can sufficiently fill up 3 small bottles.
That settles the vegan baking for chun'n mum.
I have prepared both vegan & non vegan pineapple tart
& vegan butter biscuit for his mum.

Tonight, i will have to start my very last batch of cny baking, Kueh Bangkit.
Have already baked the potato starch last night
while im preparing the biscuit dough.
Hopefully the full batch of bangkit can fill 3 smal container.

To finalize this year baking, i have done:
1. Pineapple Tart - 12 bottles
2. Pineapple Tart - 9 small tub mainly for colleague
3. Kueh Bahulu - 3 bottles
4. Butter Biscuit - 3 bottles
5. Almond Crisp - 3 bottles (ate 1 bottle during tasting, lol)
6. Kueh Bangkit - ???

I didnt know i could work so hard..
Baking every single night after work til 12.30am for 2 weeks!
Meanwhile, during work, still run errands.. lol..
I'm kinda impress with myself!!!
Though its very tiring,
i really feel happy when i see ppl enjoying the goodies i bake.
Though it may not be alot, but it still give me alot of contentment,
seeing my family memebers happy during the festive season.
These 1 month have been really crazy..

Buying clothes for my brother during the weekend..
Not an easy feat to find clothes that actually fits him due to his size...
Shopping for darling's cny clothes..
Selecting watch for chun's mum.
I realise i havent really got down to prepare myself for the new year..
My clothes havent been really settled..
The other free time i have, are all filled with baking.
I do still have a piece here n there of new clothing,
but i havent really went on to try if they can match together.
Nonetheless, i hope the upcoming year will be a GREAT one for everyone!
Jia you for the last 2 night!!

*** update butter biscuit recipe

Almond Crisp

I have LOTSA left over egg white
from my pineapple tart baking.
So this year, instead of having fried egg white every single day.
I use the egg white to make them into almond crisp.
I have tried to do them last year,
but the batter stick to my baking sheet (probably a lousy one)
like nobody's business.
So this year, i tried them again.

I tried brushing ALOT of oil on the baking paper itself, doesnt work.
I tried to lower the temperature slightly, doesnt work.
I tried to brush oil on the pan before on the baking paper, fail..
So then end, after 3 trays of wasted almond n batter.
I gave up!!!

The very next day,
i went down to Shermay & got a mini siltpat,
just the right size for my baking tray.
It was expensive, no doubt,
and i compared it with PH,
but PH doesnt have the size i wanted...
So in the end bought it from Shermay which have the size i want.
It cost me $30 bucks.
I swear that if it doesnt work,
im going to give a VERY bad review to the siltpat.

So at night, i went home to tried it.
And it works like MAGIC!!!!!
No sticking problem at all...
And the recipe i found for the almond crisp was great!!
I think i would have gone back to get one more another time,
now that i know how usefull siltpat is.
No oil-ing of pan is required,
that save the hassle of pouring oil n brushing it on the pan,
as well as save some time & of course money.

But i tried it for baking my pineapple tart on Sunday,
but i didnt like how it prevent the base of the tart from browning,
so i didn't use it for my tart.
I think i'll probably try to make some macaroon next time with siltpad.


Almond Crisp

Ingredient
1. 1 egg white
2. 12.5g plain flour
3. 25g sugar
4. 1 tsp Olive oil (healthier option for me..)
5. 50g almond slice Toasted

Direction
1. Mix all ingredient together n pour batter onto tray
2. Bake at 170deg for 20min, till brown.
3. Let cool n store in air tight container

Easy peasy!!!



dunno whether still got enough time to try out the Huat Gao,
that i promise chun i will make for his dad.
Think the only time avail will be coming friday,
as the starter dough need to be rest for 2 hrs in advance.
Keeping my fingers crossed that it will work,
if not no Fatt Gao for chun's dad liao

Spicy Prawn Roll

Spicy Prawn mix

Spicy Prawn Roll

More Pineapple Tart Baking

More baking yesterday.
Finally completed all necessary pineapple tart for family members.
Wrap the spicy prawn roll on saturday too.
Only manage to fill 3 bottles of prawn roll.
I got auntie a receipe to follow n
mum suggested to put more chilli for a spicier taste,
the final product was great, not too spicy, yer flavorful enough..
Am physically tired and my shoulder are aching..
Need to go home & Upapa tonight,
cos im just too tired to Upapa ast night.
After finishing 4x of Almond crisp,
bath & put on a mask n face cream,
time is already 12am!!!!
Therefore, straight away zZZZzzz off.

Spicy Prawn Roll

Ingredients
Filling
1. 300g good dried shrimp
2. 8 shallots
3. 8 dried chilli (i added more cos family likde things SPICY!!)

Seasoning
1. 2tsp sugar
2. 2tsp chicken stock granular
3. 1/4 tsp pepper

Procedure
1. Finely pound all ingredient for filling
2. Heat 2 tbp oil in wok & stir fry ingredient
3. Add seasoning & stir well, set aside to cool.
4. to wrap: cut spring roll into 4 square,
spread the cooled filling and secure with water.
5. Heat oil in wok and fry til golden brown,
becareful not to over fry it,
remove from oil once it turn pale brown,
cos it s color will further developed during cooling.

recipe from: Make your own Pastry.

*********************************************************
Will be catching 14 blades tonight with chun's family.
Bcos our coupon for movie ticket is expiring on 16Feb,
so cannot wait liao... lol..
Still got one spare one,
will have to go there n sell it to someone tonight.

Still have another batch of bangkit to complete,
and need to stock up on my sliced almond for the almond crisp.
And ya, not forgetting my granny's request for vegan butter cookies.
Cos a minority of us is taking vegan on 1st & 15th.
So for the last few yrs,
my 1st day of cny, no sumptous food...
just plain food, simple bakes that i prepare for myself... lol.
Somtimes, i feel like that day im 50% full only throughout the day!!
So the next few days, must chiong on the tidbits i miss out... hehehe...

Went for my company annual dinner on
Saturday at Yunan Yuan, but didnt manage to take any photo..
Dinner was alright.
No worker was drunk,
dinner only ends at 10.30pm.

Homemade Pineapple Tart

Started my pineapple tart on tue.
And have completed all thats required for my office,
mum's office, chun's office.
Still have more to go, which are for my family & chun's family.

Tonight, auntie suppose to wrap the spicy prawn roll,
as mum requested for that.
Hopefully, the "hei be hiam" she do will be as good as our previous maid.

Meet up with my IPRS classmate for Coca steamboat.
I arrived the earliest,
and manager said there's a cancellation so he gave us the private room.
Booking was made for 8person,
in the end, only 5 arrived.
Me, Chun, Lebelle & bf, Karen.
Tara & dad as well as Alicia didnt make it there.. lol.
Apparently no one had Tara'a new number, so she was uncontactable.

The starving 5, then went ahead with the buffet spread.
5 ppl, 3 steamboat... in a private room...
no wonder everyone that walk past, will peek inside,
wondering what BIG shot is inside with half empty room.!!!
Ate till all of our happy face turn into "steamy" face... haha...
and im the only one attending to the chicken stock base,
the rest chiong the tom yam base,
which i fianlly succumb to also..

Start of CNY home baking

Went home slighlt earlier at 5.20pm yesterday evening.
Manage to avoid the jam at 5.30pm after sending kk to mrt station.
Went to yew tee point to do last min shopping for some item.
3m hook for mum's charm to be hung by last night (dateline given by master),
milk powder for my pineapple tart, the queue at NTUC was crazy..
But i manage to get a queue with just 1 lady with 1 item infront of me.
Get a pair of red 汪莉 to hang up at the balcony,
they freaking cost me $8 bucks a pair, EXPENSIVE...
some toiletaries for personal use.

Started my annual home baking of pineapple tart,
to be given to family members n colleague as cny gifts at 8pm.
Have completed 8 smallish tins of tart for my colleague, each weighing ard 300g only.
Will post the photo when i get it from my slr memory card.


**reminder to myself
2x dough can use to wrap 1kg of pineapple

The rush for CNY begins~

Visited Bugis on Sat to buy watch with Chun's mum..
Eventually bought a Citizen one that i choose for her...

Sunday was suppose to start my baking but shopping for
Jack's clothes and impromptu visit to the florist took up the whole day!
Bought some food for CNY & also bought the ying liu & some potted flowers.
My house is full of the festive season this year too..

Made a full batch of Bahulu last night til 12.30am!!!!!
As i only have 1 mould with me that can bake 12nos per 10mins.
Actually wanted to get a another one but then
drop the idea cos i think wont be making too much of bahulu..
I use the first recipe that i tried.
I realise that after keeping the bahulu for a week,
the interior texture change...
so the ultimate bahulu is actually not too bad.
I must monitor the current batch to
see if the texture changes.
This time round i put in slightly more sugar,
which result in a crispier crust, that unfortunatly stick a bit,
but the interior was very fluffy & empty

Am suppose to start the pineapple tart tonight.
And another batch of bangkit planned for next week
cos i'm afraid that bangkit cant keep that long due to coconut.
didnt manage to take any photo..
Will upload as soon as i have some on hand.

Today i brought my new Tiger thermos lunch set.
Which i have compared & search for online for the last week.
I have went down to Tangs with the intention of getting
the Thermos brand lunch tote.
But then have decided against it as i cant get the one i saw online.
Was tempted to get the Zoirushi brand,
for their pretty carrier but then it doesnt have a air tight
container for soupy stuff.

So in the end, after roaming Isetan & Tangs TWICE!!!!
Crazy i know.. i ended up with Tiger one,
cos thery're made in Japan,
which i presume better quality over Thermos made in China!!!
and then another dilema comes,
should i get the 1.3 or 1.5 one??
considering the price different ony $4 bucks.
Sweetie have told me to get the larger one.
But im afraid that it'll be too big...
and it looks kinda "tall"...
and frankly not as pretty as the small one.
Ultimately, made my decision on the big one after another 20min of struggle... lol..

Auntie have heated up the leftover curry form last night,
and stir fry oyster mushroom w carrots & fresh baby corn...
Absolutly yummilicious!!!!
I espcially loved the mushroom with the crunchy fresh baby corn!!!
one satisfied meal..

Tiger Thermos Lunch Tote

unpolished Red/White rice, Curry chicken,
oyster mushroom w carrot & fresh baby corn

Darling commented that i need to bring my own lunch for the whole year,
for me to break even the cost of the Tiger Thermos... MAN~~~