Chocolate Heaven

This is one chocolate cake which is so special in my heart. Ever since I've started baking only cupcakes, I have totally forgot about my special one. My friend was asking for the recipe recently, as she may have liked the taste. Then, suddenly, I've remembered my special cake and search it in my recipe archive or (file). Actually, the last time -I've baked it was two years ago for my Eid's party. Then, I totally forgot about my "can't do wrong" chocolate cake.

I've got the recipe from the internet and I've adapted it. So, since there's one special occasion to celebrate- I think that I need to bake this cake so that I could remember it. I frost the cake using my own chocolate ganache recipe-(the same ganache I used for my Chocolate and Zucchini Cupcakes). Hope that the other party would like it...

Frosted Chocolate and Zucchini Cupcakes

These are pictures of frosted Chocolate and Zucchini Cupcakes. I have used Chocolate Ganache, as I thought that the ganache would go well with the cupcakes. Using half of a bar of unsalted butter, 1 big bar of Van Houten baking chocolate, 2 tbsp of sour cream, a pinch of salt, 1 tbsp of Vochelle cocoa powder, 1tbsp of fresh milk, 1tbsp of icing sugar, 1 tbsp of brown sugar and 1 tbsp of caster sugar-voila. I think I have arrived on the right taste of chocolate frosting.

I have put everything in the double-boiler which I have bought from IKEA. I have whisked all the ingredients together until it has arrived to the right consistency. Then I continued whisking it and put off the heat. To cool the ganache, I have replaced the pot of hot water with the cold one. To me, the IKEA double boiler was worth my money. Before this, I have always used my Corningware bowl on top of a pot of hot water.

To top off the ganache, I have used chocolate curls. The chocolate curls are Hershey's special dark baking chocolate - I have curled the chocolate using potato peeler.....a secret I've discovered from experiences.

Why Is It Difficult To Be Appreciative

Sometimes I feel that as human beings we always being not appreciative toward people around us. Never even have the courtesy to say "thank you" after all the good deeds the others have done to us. We never even show our love to loved ones, not realising it until they are away from us-forever......

I think there are many experiences in my life when it comes to love - I saw people who only realize how good their past love was only after that "past love" married someone else or had someone else. But by then, it was too late. Nothing could have changed eternally.

Some people spent more time blogging in the net rather than talking to spouses... Am I one of them? One wonders. I blog so that it will become a wonder in my search of escapism- things that do not work out at work- things that I could not blurt out in person. Things that I have wanted to say but the words could be very damaging. When I feel down or in a dilemma- I blog. When I feel that I am doing most of the things at home or workplace, but was never being appreciated- I blog. When I feel the other party was supposed to be perfect in front of superiors-but turned out to be hopeless regarding of work --- I blog. While me- the ever slogging person who always do the dirty job, covering things for others who do not do their job perfectly-from one work place to another, was never been appreciated-not even once in my life. Not even "thank you" for all those stupid things I did covering for others. God knows.

I've remembered the last time I left my old work place, my superior was saying this to me- "Don't go, stay here". But it was too late... yes, I've done my best, did things for others, organize everything, but towards the end- those who did hopeless jobs, will get the credits.. But what about me- the slogging one who is constantly doing all the work. Yes, to get the work done- get me. Give appreciation to others-- hmmm, that's why I blog. I like to blog. And that's why I bake cupcakes. I think they appreciate me...with good results especially if I give them quality and extra special ingredients....

Chocolate and Zucchini Cupcakes

I've finally managed to bake Chocolate and Zucchini Cupcakes. They are simply the best chocolate cupcakes I've ever tasted up to this day. The flavour becomes dense as it is kept in the fridge. I've baked (woke up at 4.30 a.m.) and brought them to work this morning, they become hot-sellers as friends never even guess that one of the ingredients is actually zucchini or courgette.

I've adapted the recipe as I'm short of the main ingredients, revising it now and then, and I even grated some semi-sweet Hershey's baking chocolate.The results- I simply liked its mild sweetness and the bitterness of Hershey's chocolate. The cupcakes took some time to be ready and since I was running late, I didn't frost them. But they are just fine as they are. These cupcakes are dark in colour, moist, chocolatey and very flavoursome, with the nice aroma and smell of coconut. Definitely- pure heaven.....

Thinking again

Just thinking... again, on our own life journeys. Childhood memories, an ambitious daughter, teenage years, student's life, working adult, a woman in love, a betrayed woman, a virgin bride, a beaming mother, a hopeful wife. We have long cycles and stages in life- I've wondered where it would go. Life makes me realize many things- life teaches us experiences and life has made us a better student along the way.

Tripping on many rocks, crying on unexpected news, hoping on some miracles. But God has his own way, he has made us tougher with his own plans, we become stronger as the day goes by... Yes, God has planned many things for us, why we are here, what we become, to whom we are married to, why things don't turn out as what we would liked. God has his own agenda for what is good for us..... I should believe on that..

Of Being Truthful

This afternoon, as my student told me- "Teach...Your Peanut Butter cupcake the other day was so nice". Yes, this was one child who really took time to appreciate my hard work for charity. So far, this is the best compliment I have ever received. Even if I have substituted my prized Pilsbury's All Purpose Flour- for a regular Cap Sauh, she has given me some hopes- of making others (especially-children) happy.

Well, when I started blogging about cupcakes, I have received some brickbats from some relevant parties which could be very hurtful at times. Even with blogging about recipes- in my "cup-a-cake" blog, did I get some disparaging comments- as if like I am competing with others- comments like these --"could I rely on your recipes?" , "you think you are so good?" and " you are going to share your recipes?". Hmmm.. to answer those questions- I am not good in lying and usually people don't share cupcakes recipes locally- especially when business is concerned.

Well, those recipes- are taken from my reliable books and some are adapted from the internet. I don't really own those recipes. But my invented recipes-I do not dare to share them out as some people may feel offended if the cupcakes do not taste as good as what people thought they would be. That's why I call my cupcakes -projects-it is for my own consumption and I don't intend to compete with others who are charging and making money out of baking cupcakes. I don't.... I think with my work load and commitments- be it personal or professionally- ( even if I am tempted to stop working - and do a baking business)- I simply don't have the time.

I bake because I like it, I enjoy it, baking unstress my mind. Never mind if those cupcakes that you buy are better than my invented recipes. What can I say-- it's your choice. I like baking, baking cupcakes makes my life happier. Towards the end of the day, when a child comes to you and says this "Your cupcakes are tasty and sweet".. That is all that matters...

Inspiration from the Ice-Cream

I really like to look out for new inspirations. Last Saturday, I woke up early in the morning at 4.15 a.m., just to try out another of my newly-invented recipe- Pistachio Almond Cupcakes. I had this craving to invent a recipe out of my favourite ice-cream, and bring the cupcakes for a meeting. Frankly speaking, I did not even try to taste the cupcakes,:- 1) maybe because I was sleepy 2)I was too excited/ too scared ... Well, I managed to bake 15 of the cupcakes -I have to minimize the batter as to maximise the cupcakes. Using my favourite Pilsbury's All-Purpose Flour and lemon, unsalted butter, lemon and ever expensive Pistachio flour and almond- the batter tasted so wonderful like my favourite ice-cream. I use Philly's for my cream cheese frosting and threw in some chopped pistachio and icing sugar, simply out of this world. The result-"sold out " cupcakes and unsatisfied colleagues who did not manage to get a bite of the cupcakes.

Yes, I promised them to bake another batch, this time I would not try to minimize the batter as I did use a lot of cream- cheese frosting to cover up half of the cake for my last project. I will do my Pistachio Almond Cupcakes together with Chocolate Zucchini and bring them to work. After that, my cupcakes projects will need to take a break as I need to focus on unfinished work for three weeks. But in the mean time, friends will have to look for recipes in http://www.cup-a-cake.blog.com/. I will post relevent and reliable recipes there...