First in 2014 : A Belated Birthday Cake

Specially for my sister.

Her birthday was on the second week of 2014, but we had to held off the cake until few days later when my sister got home from college. She likes soft fluffy cake and I like to make something other than chocolate as focal point so I settled on this. 

I Wanna Go Home

The school will starting tomorrow. *You heard that right kids. School's break is OFFICIALLY OVER!!!* For some, they might have already started early on for the orientation day. 

Looking back at my first day in school (in standard one) and that was like a long time ago, most of the parents will stayed with their kids until the school day's over. Pretty much understandable. A new environment surely going to be alien for their child. More so if the kid haven't been to preschool. When the parents are with them, the adjustment could be more easier. 

Perhaps, it wasn't the parents easing the new kid into school. It could be the older siblings. Older brother or sister. Having an older sibling in the same school also helps the kid into liking the prospect of being in school. But not all kids can easily adjusting to a new surrounding. Some need a little more time. Either the parents or the teacher will have to be patient in coaxing the child to like being in school. Having new friends will also help. 

What if nothing works? The kid still clings to the parents, begging to go back home with them? In that case, make a batch of this dessert. I can't guarantee that it will keep the kid at school, but I like to think that a homemade ice cream ready for me after school is far better than anything! 

Plain Old Favorite

I scream... 

I-C-E C-R-E-A-M!!!

Short and Sweet

Sometimes, pictures worth a thousand words...

Strawberry Ice Cream... What more do you want in a hot day?!

strawberry blush, pineapple mush: a birthday story

here is a special edition post specially for my younger sister, currently studying in johore. yesterday was her birthday *happy birthday again acik*.. and since she isn't home, i teased her about making some cupcakes. but  of course i'm not that cruel!  ^_^

instead, i make some...TODAY! hehehe...too bad you are not here to enjoy it...*sorry ;)* don't worry, when you get back, i'll bake it for you. back to the cake, it is basically just a simple cake with ingredients that pretty much stocked up in your pantry. not to mention it takes only a little of your time to do it.

originally, it was vanilla flavored cake. but to make it a bit more festive, i add a little bit color, strawberry extract and throw in some chocolate rice. and instead of using paper cups, i baked them in small tart molds *to get them out of the mold requires a bit more patience!*. here you go...cute cakes for birthday party!

small strawberry cakes with pineapple sauce

makes about 12-16 cupcakes (depends on size)

• 1 1/4 cups self raising flour
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup corn oil
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp strawberry extract 
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• a few drops of pink coloring

1. preheat oven to 175 Celsius (350 Fahrenheit). Place paper cups in two cupcake pans
2. sift flour + baking soda + salt in medium bowl and set aside
3. in mixer: beat eggs + sugar until creamy and lightened in color at medium speed.
4. lowering speed, add in oil + vanilla and strawberry extracts + yogurt
5. then slowly add in flour mixture and mix until all incorporated
6. pour into cups and bake for 18 - 23 minutes, checking with a toothpick if it comes out clean, it done

pineapple sauce

• 3 cups cubed pineapple *from fruit, not canned*
• 3/4 water
• 1/4 sugar
• 3 cloves

1. combine all ingredients in a small pot, cover with a lid and let it simmer for 30 minutes under medium low heat or until the pineapple become mushy
2. remove from heat, let it cool down a little before pureeing in food processor
3. let cool to room temperature before using

cupcake madness part 2

as i promised, this is part two for cuppy madness. i am crazy for chocolate, but that doesn't mean i shy away from any other flavor. it's like between LIKE and LOVE. i LIKE cinnamon, strawberry, vanilla and some other flavors. but i LOVE chocolate. see what i mean? 

so here, i made strawberry flavored cupcakes filled with meringue buttercream and topped with chocolate ganache and little cream rosette. and LOOK at THE MESS i made when making all these! yeap, i'm not that kind of organized girl. anyway, these little darlings were worth every effort. *sigh...after making these, i slept like a log. :-P 

sweet indulgence

looks like i've been hit by a muffin bug this week. i kept on posting about muffins. it's okay i guess since muffin is like a best friend. it can be sweet; it can be savory. sometimes a bit tart; another time will be spicy. take your pick. the possibilities are endless. i bet you feel the same way. 

so for yesterday tea time, i made strawberry yogurt muffins with raisins. 

the verdict (and i'd like to quote Simon's favorite three words in AI) :

it. was. outstanding. 

moist, not too crumbly, perfect pair with unsweetened tea...just how a muffin should be.