A Birthday Cake

A double celebration

The Red Velvet Birthday Cake Frosted with Philly's Cream Cheese and Mascarpone Cheese, topped with Hawaiian coconut, fresh strawberries and blueberries.

We have always try to celebrate birthdays of loved ones. It would be nice to have a birthday surprise in terms of a birthday cake- especially a Red Velvet perhaps. This birthday cake is specially done, for Ms Zetty. She was a friend of a friend, and I have baked this as a challenge. A challenge for myself. Never done a birthday cake with writings on it. Thus, I have used the writing pen to save my time. Overall it took me 5 hours to do this. What a nice taste to use mascarpone cheese for this frosting. Like I've said in a previous post, back in 2008, when you bake, do not be stingy with the ingredients. The more you spend for your ingredients, the better the results. Ooo.. wouldn't it be nice if you relate it to your life? The more time you spend with your loved ones, the loved ones would love you more too... perhaps then.

Happy days ahead, hope your birthday is celebrated with a cake from the loved ones...

p/s: Lucky "Daddy and Amani Zara". Hmmm ;)

Just Like I've Promised...

Custard Sauce

The Bread and Butter Pudding

Today, I just felt like winning a 100-metre race, simply because I have done my homework in a 2-hour marathon. I felt like a burden has just been lifted from me. So, what else to do than blogging about this recipe. God knows, how happy I am now- finally been able to think straight... ;) Just like I've promised before.. my whole-meal bread and butter pudding recipe (which was originally from Nigella Lawson). This bread and butter pudding is definitely a star on its own. It is certainly not an ordinary bread and butter pudding. There's a hint of English taste of this pudding. Give it a try and you'll definitely know what it means to be in a baking heaven....

The recipe for the pudding

What you need;

75g unsalted butter

3 tbsp of orange juice

75g sultanas

1 loaf of whole-meal bread (originally brown bread)

Half of bottle of Ginger and orange conserve (marmalade)-

I have used the St Dalfour brand of jam in this recipe

4 egg yolks

1 egg

3tbsp of caster sugar

200ml full-fat fresh milk ( skimmed milk will not do - I'm sorry)

500ml double cream ( I have used UHT whipping cream - ARLA or Emborg brand)

1 tsp of ground ginger (you can use fresh grated ginger)

2tbsp demerara sugar (abundant in the UK, unfortunately please use brown sugar here in Malaysia)

How

1) Grease pudding dish with not so expensive butter. Unsalted is quite expensive

here in Malaysia (unfortunately)

2) Soak sultanas with orange juice ( 15-20 mins or until they really plumped up)

3) Sandwich bread, butter and jam

4) Cut your sandwiches into triangles, arrange evenly

5) Sprinkle sultanas over the sandwiches, together with the soaked up-juices

6) Whisk egg yolks and egg with caster sugar- pour into bread sandwiches

7) Pour in the cream and milk

8) Smear the bread crust with soft butter, mix the ground ginger and demerara (brown) sugar.

9)Lastly bake the pudding in a pre-heated oven of 120C, for about 20-30 mins.

10) Test if it's ready by putting a skewer inside , it should come out clean.

Custard Sauce

Ingredients

275ml double/single cream -whipping cream is okay

3 egg yolks

1tsp corn flour

1 tsp caster sugar

2 drops of vanilla

How

1) Heat cream in a small saucepan or non stick pot.

2) Whisk egg yolks, cornflour, sugar and vanilla in a bowl.

3) Pour hot cream into the bowl. Stirring.

4) Return mixture to the saucepan.

5) Heat gently until thick. Use wooden spoon to stir your custard cream slowly. Make sure it

does not curdle.

6) Use low-temperature heat...

You can eat this pudding with vanilla ice-cream or this custard sauce.

Have a scoop of pudding, everyone.... ;)

Wholemeal Bread Pudding

Whole-meal bread pudding with custard sauce

I have always be fond of Nigella Lawson. The British journalist- turned celebrity chef and TV personality is definitely a chef in style. I could say that she has always be my idol in terms of cooking and baking. A kitchen goddess, definitely she is. I have baked this bread pudding since 2007, ever since I have discovered her in TLC. What I liked best about her was the generous amount of ingredients found in her recipe. Recently, I have baked this bread pudding and it was definitely a sold-out. So now, I have decided to share the recipe of my version, in the next post ( when time really permits me to do that)...In the meantime, do enjoy the picture ;)

Thank You

A Thank You Cake

Chocolate Heaven with Sour Cream and Chocolate frosting, topped

with fresh sliced strawberries, glazed cherries and chocolate chips. I have

written the words Thank You with an icing pen.

"Thank You" are two big words- showing our appreciation for those who have done great, good deeds to us. We say thank you to friends, family and colleagues. How often I wonder do we say thank you to those close to us. This cake is baked with those two words in mind. I've baked it as a favour for a colleague who has just finished her contract. She was asking for this chocolate cake and I thought what a great idea to sponsor this for a farewell party at my workplace. What a delight to have this cake with two big words which summarise everything.

Yes, thank you dear, from the bottom of my heart..... I was very glad to bake this for you; )

Vanilla Pods

Vanilla Pods

These are heaven

I have bought two packets and only used one pod

We often used vanilla extract in our baking, either in cakes or buns or muffins. When we smell of vanilla, we remember home-baked goods. Vanilla derives from the plant of orchid. It's fragrant and aromatic, with a distinct feel-good smell. Vanilla are not flowers, there actually come in pods. That is why we call them vanilla pods. Recently, I went to Jaya Grocer, a supermarket in the Empire Gallery, Subang Jaya. Who would have guessed - I have discovered Vanilla Pods. Now and then I took two packets of those vanilla. They should be worth the money. I could say they are utterly expensive, but who cares anyway. Furthermore, I think I would save them for special occasion cakes.... Now, that is what we call excuses for luxury. ;)

Apple Walnut Cupcakes

Cupcakes with crusts


Cupcakes, cupcakes...

Apple Walnut Cupcakes frosted with buttercream icing, topped with walnut, roasted Hawaiian coconut flakes and pineapple...

During the weekend, I felt like baking. It has been ages since I baked these cupcakes, the last time being in 2008. I had had some reasons to bake, one -I was going to visit a dear friend, two- I was thinking of apple cupcakes seeing the lone green fresh Granny Smith in my fruit basket. Thus, the idea of baking apple walnut cupcakes again. I loved these cupcakes, probably because there are walnuts inside. These cupcakes are usually preferred by adults rather than kids- maybe because of the taste of cinnamon powder. Adults would usually like sophisticated tastes ( aren't they?) while kids like sweet and fun things. My brother in law thought that these were banana cupcakes- maybe because of the grated apples. Eventually, this is the second time that people have mistaken apples for bananas for these cupcakes. Bananas and apples? Only God knows.. well, perhaps I shall combine these two fruits and bake them into cupcakes... ;)

For this recipe, I had only used one lone apple as that's the only one left in my fruit basket. To get the best results, would be - using two apples -as the texture would be nicer and you'll get apple tastes. Apart from that, I had also used sour cream ( my secret ingredient for all this while) and adding some crushed walnut. For the frosting, I had used whipping cream, creamwell ( a type of shortening), butter ( I had used Golden Churn), not so pure butter with vegetable oil( Farmcows), vanilla essence and icing sugar ( sifted). Using only creamwell will results on "not so buttery tastes" but by adding another three ingredients, you'll definitely get a better type of frosting.

Now, everyone would have a better reason to bake apple cupcakes, right... Yes, baking makes you happier....

I love my Chocolate Heaven

My ever favourite Chocolate Heaven

Recently, there was a birthday party invitation from my neighbour for her one-year old girl. But, I could not attend the party as it clashed with my cousin's wedding. Therefore, it was time to head the kitchen again. As I could not make it, it supposed I should give my neighbour something to make up for our absence (my son and I). What came into mind was- baking my ever favourite Chocolate Heaven. This recipe uses all-in-one method. All- in-one method means that you dump everything in your mixing bowl. This method requires you to use vegetable oil (be it canola or even olive oil- but it is better to use corn oil economically- coconut oil would be nice too), hot boiling water, and perhaps maybe milk or buttermilk ( you can substitute buttermilk by having a cup of fresh milk with the addition of 1 teaspoon of lemon juice -only lemon could do- or a teaspoon of cream of tartar).

If ever you are using the all-in-one method for baking cakes- the most important thing is you must only add the liquids towards the end of the mixing. Like in this case, adding the hot boiling water at the last part of the mixing process. I have used imported cocoa powder bought from the baking store and frost the cake using my lovely self- invented frosting, topped with chocolate chips, dessicated coconut and glazed cherry. Feel free to try my favourite frosting recipe.

Chocolate Heaven Frosting recipe

(using the double-boiler method- or you can just put heat-proof bowl on top of

simmering pot of water on the stove)

Ingredients

1 or 2 tablespoons of butter ( unsalted is better)

A pinch of salt

2 table spoons of sour cream ( get this in the supermarket section of dairy products)

2 tablespoons of cocoa powder (sifted)

2 or 3 tablespoon of caster sugar

1 bar of Cooking Chocolate ( you can just put half bar if you like -of 200g of cooking chocolate)

1 or 2 teaspoons of fresh milk

How

1) Add everything inside your bowl, put on top of simmering water.

2) Whisk them vigorously.

3) Adjust the sweetness and taste as to your liking.

P/s: I like the taste of bittersweet chocolate, thus the adding of extra cocoa powder.