My bakes for birthday! (2019 & 2020)

Hahahaha... another back-dated post!!!

I think I better post these photos to remind myself that I had been doing such a big project back when I were this 'adventurous'!!  The first pull money cake I ordered was very expensive & the cake taste horrible!!  Really, we were really shocked that the cake was hard & tasteless, I guess the cake was baked to hold the shape.

Anyways, I decided to try baking myself, after doing some research online on the pull money mechanism, buying all the necessary things I need to make sure it works! Hahaha...

This is my first creation back in Sep 2019, for my Mother-In-Law's (MIL) birthday, using my red velvet cake recipe.  Doing my own cake topper (the chinese wordings topper, as I cannot find anyone to custom-made it for me!) and ordering the icing sheets with the images I want! Hahaha... 100% custom-made cake!!  But IF I were to get into this business, don't think I can do so many things for an order!  And during that time of the year (Aug), I had a difficult time trying to find all those gold coins & ingots chocolates!! They can be easily bought during our CNY period, but other times of the year, GOOD LUCK! Hahaha...

The 2nd pull money cake I made was for my dad!!  No much customized toppers, mostly 'plug & play' type!  Getting lazier! Hahaha... This time, I baked carrot cake with cream cheese frosting! Nice!  But he had fun pulling out the money, not forgetting to pass to my mum after pulling out!

The last cake I baked, a simple Pumpkin cheesecake was for hubby in Nov 2019!!  We used to order the really nice Pumpkin cheesecakes from TCC, but it is not available now, so after some research online, came up with this cake!!

My cooking journey for 2019

** This was a post saved as draft dated 10 Sept 2019 & only realised it today, 22 Feb 2022!!! 2.5 years later!! WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING????  I DO NOT KNOW! Hahahaha... **

Ok, I think this post is something I wanted to post back then, tracing what I had been doing for the year 2019!! 

So, this Ondeh Ondeh cake was my first attempt to bake... nice, but did not bake another time, cos I think abit too sweet for all of us!  But nice try! Hahaha...

This was a good Butter dinner rolls which I tried, actually I baked these a few times in the year (2019) and has not been baking this these 2 years (covid years!))

This should be a Japanese Cheese cake!! I really cannot remember which recipe did I follow.. hahaha...

Another noodle attempt in using my noodle maker machine, if am not wrong, I was doing the mee-kia for my wanton noodles, with my homemade char siew!!  Can't recall if the wantons were homemade too! Hahahaha...

This is the sous vide equipment hubby got me... Had tried a few things, but only took photo of this apple sauce pork loin which I tried, not too bad though... the thing I find troubling me is the ziplock bag which I need to find to use this equipment, it must be able to withstand the heat of the water bath and food safe!!  I find it difficult to find in Singapore, so end up I got some silicone bags for use in sous vide.

This is another breakfast dish I had finally mastered after 2 years of making, fried carrot cakes in black & white!!  We can always finished them all for weekend breakfast, so save us going to hawkers or coffee shops to buy back and my taste just as good!! Hahaha...  *abit of self praised*

I believe this baked pasta was created by me after learning to cook our own tomato pasta sauce from the TV program, Ah Gong can cook, and it's been our Tomato paste recipe which I only used now.  My niece & nephew only like my baked pasta now, nothing they had tried outside could make them happy!! Now am a happy chef!!!  Hahaha... But my kids had been quite 'sick' of this baked pasta...

My sausage buns

I had many failed attempts at making sausage buns, and I had in fact given up on trying making buns with hands! Haha.. The only bread I can make are those using the breadmaker with their recipes! But my kids do not quite like those as the bread produced were denser than those bought off the shelves.

I decided to give this a last try as I say a recipe online which was pretty easy and ingredients used were also very basic.

And I was really happy with my final products!!!  The bun was really soft and my whole house was filled with the aroma of the buns!!! But the kids did not have a chance to try my piping hot fresh buns from the oven as it was 11pm when am done!  Hahaa...  I'll try other fillings soon again!!! Really happy...

And here's the link to the recipe I had followed and really thankful to the recipe contributor!!!

http://bakingscorner.blogspot.sg/2014/09/freshly-baked-mini-sausage-buns-by.html

My recent bake...

I had been baking quite a bit recently... as I saw some simple cake recipes online and had also joined a group on Facebook named Singapore home cook food,  and many ladies and some men had took really good shots of their food which somehow entice me to try out the recipes!!

First time me baking pandan cake from scratch!  The last round I had tried using premix and it was a flop!  But somehow after baking the Japanese cheesecake twice, I had mastered the egg white beating into top peak form and with that, my pandan cupcake was really soft and yummy!!

Here's the recipe I used: http://kitchentigress.blogspot.sg/2013/08/pandan-chiffon-cupcakes-video-recipe.html?m=1

Give it a try if you have the time and enjoy baking!! It's worth the effort especially when the one eating says nice! :)

The other bake I had wanted to try on was the Magic Custard cake, but guess I failed in it... as my cake did not give me the 3 layers but 2, lucky it was still very tasty! :p I guess it failed due to my leaking pan! After pouring the mix into my pan, it leaked!! So, the mix was somehow messy... I shall find a time to try this again as my Ashley had been supportive to be eating it and tell me it's yummy! 

And here's the link to the recipe: http://bakingtaitai.blogspot.sg/2014/05/magic-custard-cake.html?m=1#more

My busiest day!!

Hahaha... I was sooo amazed with myself on this day...

As usual, I need to get up at 6:30am to send Ashley to school on normal weekday... And I decided to go market after sending her, my only intention was to buy fish, as my freezer is running out of fish! So off we went (my Alvan got up early today) with just $60 in my pocket!! 

While I was at the veg store, I saw some really nice Japanese pumpkin and decided to get some to make my pumpkin kaya!! So this was my impromptu item for the day!

And I need to leave from work early today as I still have my Ashley's change of clothes with me!!  As I found her school bag really heavy and offered to send her change of clothes to AceGuru for her, but little did I expect the center to be not yet opened when I was there at 8:30am!

When I got home at about 3:30pm, I need to start making my kaya, else the kitchen would be too busy for me to step in when its dinner time!

And after dinner, I thought to finish up my 3 super riped bananas baking cakes! So another impromptu decision to make banana cakes!!!  Same as previous, I had made 3 varieties, purely banana cakes, banana cakes w Choco chips ad banana cakes w walnuts!! My WIP cakes...

And after I sent my cakes into the oven, I realized I got no bread for my kaya for my breakfast the next day!!! OMG... And all stores are closed for the day, as its already 10pm!!! What to do!? Bake my own bread!!! Hahahaha...

What an interesting day!!! Hahahaha.. And my helper was laughing and commented you are sooo busy!!! Hahaha... Well, that's me!!! :p

Children's day 2013

I must blog this as its my first time contributing for the childcare celebration!! Hahaha... I made some cake pops and a last minute decision to make some swords and flowers balloons for Adwin's classmate, as this will be his last year celebrating in LGH!!

The cake pops were not really as expected, quite a messy job! Haha.. Firstly, I got the cake pops molds from Taobao.com, as I thought it would be easier to make it since there's not a need to crash the cake, mix with frosting and make them into balls by hand individually, but the mold did not deliver nice round cake pops!! And I guess my butter cake mix was not ideal too!! But I got no time, so the kids will have to swallow my so-so butter cake! And I had intended to coat the cake pops with white chocolate, but failed!! Cos the white compound chocolate did not melt after 3 mins in the microwave!! Lucky I had my Hershey's Choco chips as back up!! So instead of white cake pops, all turned out as Choco cake pops!! Anyways, my 2 kids had fun putting on all the decors!! Another challenge I faced, hardening the Choco!! Due to space constrains, I had to put all (30 pops) onto a plate and into my fridge! So when all had hardened, all pops were sticking together!! And some were 'disfigured'!!!  Haha... But since there were for kids, so maybe they won't mind?? Haha...

My individually packed cake pops!!

My not so nice cake before their make over!!

And my 2 bags of balloons sculpture all nicely done!!!

12 + 1 swords 

7 + 1 flowers!

The kids were soooo happy when they saw the 2 bags of balloons!! And Chelsea came to the window asking, "are the balloons for us?" Hahaha.. So happy to see the kids enjoying... Simple happiness!! That's the joy of being children!

And I had left my Ashley at AceGuru for the day... Topping up $10 so she can go over in the morning... I seriously do not understand why she's sooo keen to go there, maybe like what she told me before, over there nobody to disturb, and I would interpret it as 'nobody to scold me!'... Anyway, I just hope she can enjoy herself for a day, with really nobody to 'disturb' her... Happy children's day to my 3 precious!!! :)

Teachers day 2013

This is my first time baking for the kid's teachers.  Really a last minute decision to do this, as I had run out of gifts to get for the teachers and Ashley's sch had sent an email saying the kids can't buy present for teachers, except for handmade items!! And we had no time to bake on wed, as Ashley's sch celebration was on Thurs! As for Adwin, I only saw that they are having a party on Fri and kids can bring food along, that's why the making of these heartshape with jelly and cheesecake!

My failed pandan cake

This was the first time I tried making a pandan cake! And I had long heard of how tough it was so I went to buy the Prima brand ready pack to make, all I had to do was adding 5 eggs and some water! But I still failed!!! Lousy....

Haha... Ok, my guess on failure?! The mixture was not beaten long enough or it was over beaten!! Tough huh?? Yes for me!! So, am NOT going to try again!! The cake was half risen!! See my picture below!! And my dear hubby still say its nice, and jokingly told me, it taste like pandan pudding!!! And I just need to tell my 'taster' it's my new invention!!! What a joke!! :( but, I must really thank him for tr support!! ;)

Lunar new year is here!

Haha... By the time this post is up, our lunar new year is already half gone! Haha... Ok, as usual, I had been delaying my post again... Well, am just a super busy mummy!! :p

Even though I am super busy, I still try to squeeze a little time out to bake for CNY! As I told my dear hubby, his hobby is reading and my hobby is baking and cooking, so, I can still bake at 1am when everyone is asleep! Crazy? Well... That's the only ME time I can get now, with no one asking me how to spell a word, or ask me if I still love him!? Haha... Maybe my neighbors had been cursing and swearing at me when they go to the loo at the wee hours smelling my butter cookies!! LOL...

Anyway, this year, I managed to fry the arrow roots, bake pineapple tarts, butter cookies and honey cornflakes with almond slices! Managed to get my 2 A's help on the cornflakes and they super enjoy helping out, at the same time, eating them! Forgot to take some pictures of them... Sigh...

Smash cake for baby

I had been sourcing for easy and nice recipes to bake my baby's first smash cake! And had been eying this recipe for a long while... Even bought the ingredients long ago, wanting to try it before baking the real thing for my baby...

And as always, I won't be able to get things done till the last minute! Haha... Ok, i admit I ahead been quite lazy, but.... No excuse right? Haha...

I only started baking on Thursday night... As the party is on Sunday night, so am still in time!! The ingredients look easy to get, and it just took me about 10 minutes to pop the cake into my oven!! So, twenty minutes later, my cake is ready!! But, sad to say, it taste awful!!... My guess is, the nutmeg and cinnamon taste are too strong and the whole meal flour makes the cake really hard...

So, I went online to search for other recipes!! And found this chocolate cake for baby's first smash cake! And lucky, I had all the required ingredients and off I went to bake it!! Haha... Eh, at least, the cake taste better in terms of softness and taste! Why would I bake a chocolate cake for my baby? Well, I was abit reluctant initially, but since the recipe calls for no egg, I am in! And I reduced the sugar to half the stated amount, using raw sugar!! Which I thought is another good smash cake recipe!

As for the icing, I decided to stick to the cream cheese icing! So, hope am ready for the party and my baby can have a good time smashing and enjoying his first cake baked by mummy!? :)

Bread making

My sis got me a new kenwood BM260 bread machine for my early birthday present!! I had been wanting to buy this machine hoping to make fresh breads for the family daily, so my wish finally comes true.... :)

Okay, my first loaf of bread was a failure... Sorry to say, if not for my second loaf of super soft and nice bread, I also will not know that my first loaf sucks!!! Haha...

And my guess for my failed bread should be due to the yeast used!! The first loaf, I used the bake king yeast which is in a small bottle, though it has not expired, but I did wonder how long can the bottle of yeast last once opened? I remember reading somewhere once the yeast is opened it should be used up within 24 or 48 hours!! Anyway, lucky I had another type of yeast available, which is packed in small satchets of 11g each. And viola... The second loaf of sweet bread taste wonderful and even the kids can eat them plainly!!! We have not been buying bread since last weekend!! Lol...

Am going to try the other recipes in the book... Hoping to make more nice and tasty breads for WL and the kids!!! :)

CNY cookies

Pardon my messy postings... Am trying to post my missing entries based on the photos in my iPhone... Haha...

As I am on maternity leave during this CNY and with a maid, I had been looking for recipes to make some CNY cookies this year!! And managed to squeezed out some time to bake while baby is napping away!!

It was really fun and first time we have lots of cookies to eat!! My kids favorite is the butter cookies and fried arrowroots!! Adwin's another favorite is the pineapple tarts!! And I found a real easy recipe for peanut cookies too!! Easy and tasty!! Hope I can do more next year!! LOL...

My Egg tarts

Yeah... I finally find the time to try my hands on Egg Tarts!!... hahaha...

here's the pic of my work!!
Making up the crust... Ready for filling up...


Egg fillings added... Ready for baking...


My FINISHED PRODUCT!!


ehm... would say they are edible.. but I find it abit too sweet, but WL say with the crust, everything just taste just nice... ehm... shall have a try on Portuguese Egg Tarts next time!! hahaha... :p

oh yes, my Ashley tell me they are nice!! hahaha... guess that's the most important part!! :D

My cupcakes for Ashley

The full cupcakes display at the chlidcare...

 

 

 

Flower design using marshmallows!

 

This is specially here so I can see all the nice cupcakes I had made for Ashley... my very first attempt making nice cupcakes... hahaha...

It was a very nice and memorable experience... cos it took me a long time to plan for everything and trying to source for all the raw materials just to make the cupcakes look nice... and of cos, I had been thinking of designs since 1 month back when I decided to take this adventurous route... hahaha...

I didn't know I would take such a long time to bake all the 50 cupcakes... As I need to make sure my 2 kids are asleep before I start baking... and during the process, I had to stop to feed Adwin, and by the time am done, it's already 3am!!... But the cupcakes did not turn out as wonderful as I thought, as I had adjusted the recipe a little, reducing the sugar, as I thought the buttercream icing is very sweet, adding more flour, cos the last time I feel the cake was a bit too buttery... in the end, I find, the original recipe was indeed the right proportion one... hahaha... trying to act smart... :p