Carrot Cake! Omg a veggie cake?

A lot people are quite against this cake, and I use to be one of them. Can you imagine? A carrot which is a vegetable cooked in stews, soups and malaysian popiah, which are all savory made into a cake? It's just plain wrong! Well all that changed after I unconsciously took a bit of carrot cake at a birthday party and surprisingly taste nothing like what I imagined! Some people might still not like the idea but it is quite good trust me  =).

Introducing! =) tadaa! my version of carrot cake! Soft moist cake filled with raisins and a hint of cinnamon and the all so healthy carrots! which is what I think keeps the cake moist =) and for the top, smooth cream cheese icing and loads of caramelised nuts! I prefer putting the caramelised nuts on top which stays nice and crunchy  =) They are good on their own already but with everything together it's awesome! 

So for me it's a 'healthier' cake  =) so go give carrot cakes out there a chance! you might not regret it =) Well at least I didn't ..If you still don't like it maybe you'll get to try mine one day  =) might chance your mind..hehe!

Little rabbits will be over joyed! =)

Creme Brulee ^^

Finally success! After the failure of my first attempt at creme brulee haha no post on that 'blek', I was determined to try it again!..Heh heh and this time it worked. It set to the right consistency and still silky smooth texture on your taste buds =).I also had a new toy...a mini blow torch thank you daddy! It's the coolest thing like the ones you see on tv but smaller! It created the caramel crust on top of the creme brulee and when you put your spoon into it, it cracks like glass..OoooOoOo....

A great contrast between the crunchy sugar top with the silky smooth pudding on the bottom..But what brought me joy was the beautiful caramel top.It's kinda felt like a science project I was doing in school, burning stuff and all =) I have to say the taste wasn't really as exciting as I thought it would be..maybe I've been having too much custard recently..Will try a more citric flavour the next time..maybe orange? haha but for now I'm happy with this result =)

 

Will be back soon! told ya 'winks'! enjoy!

Cream Puff, Choux Pastry Love! =)

I have good news! More free time in my hands now joyous! This means more pastry for you and me =) More time to have more consistent blog posts. winks =) So let me introduce you to choux pastry, what cream puffs are made of. It's quite magical how they work..It's liquid-y when you place them in the oven but then within minutes..TADAA! Poof-y golden brown cream puff rising happily in the all so hot oven =) I have made them many many time and some people have tried them too but through many attempts I have much improved from  before well at least I like to think so hehe..

They are very versatile which is why I love making them..I made a few variations this time..the first is Strawberry and Chocolate Cream sandwiched in between the warm buttery aroma cream puff and topped with icing sugar to give it a snowy feeling =) yes it's quite tempting isn't it? hehe..strawberries! *hearts*

Next up! Éclairs..sounds very French =) Well usually I make them smaller in size but I wanted to try something else and I've realised smaller is better this time cause they pop faster into my mouth haha  =)..and usually I make them with regular pastry cream but wanted to be a little out of the box so attempted chocolate one, which was good too! thumbs up..Topped with chocolate and some almond flakes too..the chocolate looks so shiny! wait till till you see the last one =0!

Profiteroles! one of the best dessert after dinner =) You know why? Cause it has one other favorite dessert of  mine...ICE CREAM! =) jumps for joy! hopes it burns calories at the same time..Well anyway it's also easier too, cause it saves me the effort from making the cream haha =) Imagine ice cold vanilla ice cream in between buttery cream puff and poured warm chocolate! omg I bet you're thinking what I was thinking, too bad you weren't there to eat it with me..haha! *evil smiles* This one is my love out of the 3 =) I hope inspired the cream puff in you and more pictures for your enjoyment =) Will update real soon! heh heh! ^^

shiny shiny chocolate =)

Green tea MaTCha!

Ohaiyo! =) Finally something more japanese yeah? Green tea roll yum yum..I bet you can find this everywhere! Loved by all, including my sister and I, has motivated me to attempt this light and 'healthy' cake..It has TEA in it and it's green! so no matter what you say it's still a healthy cake version to me =)! Plus mammy made homemade soy bean..Very asian tea time snack that weekend.

There's still much room for improvement but it's a very good first try I might say =)..Very leveled rising and balanced in taste as well..I got the recipe from a japanese translated chinese book! Mammy gave me some help since I can't read chinese..but I know a little japanese though =) Yes, I still haven't made my journey to KLCC to Kinokuniya TT..but still it's a very good book and not too expensive..So back to the cake, it's a regular roll cake with green tea and filled with green tea fresh cream! I wanted to add red bean bits into it but I realised it's really expensive to buy and it was too late for me to boil some..save it for the next time =)..So I placed some on the top for decorative purposes..haha lil cheats!

I had major problems rolling the cake..omg..everything was squishing out and soft and cracking and everything..stress mode was definitely on!..But I manage to make a section from the whole thing..you can see it;s a little flat and not as round as the ones  you buy from the bakeries..Taste wise it was good but the cake could be lighter.

Anyway that's all for now..will try many other new recipes to come..haha more free time now..some of you might know why.'winks'..Holiday mode is here! have a great start for JULY!..I hope mine will be =)

Tutti Fruiti Tarty?

Fruit tart anyone? Hehe..Yummy fruit tarts bursting with colours and flavours always bring me joy =)..I always  had a little bias towards tarts and pastries, they are just my kinda thing. Not very hard to make but can be done in so many ways. To me it's like a little 'transformer' for desserts! You want it filled caramel? chocolate? cream? jam? peanut butter? OMG anything you want! I bet other cake and stuff can be done in many ways but tarts are the easiest to me. I made 2 different types of fruit tart. Obviously you can see one is filled with pastry cream, yummy strawberries and grape, but what's the other? Hiding behind ? hmmm..

What's banana doing there?! Haha yes yes banana is very much part of the team of fruitiness =) "told you tarts were ever changing" The other was banana cream tart filled with chocolate and topped of with nuts! Even the description sound good yeah? 

The thing what I love about these mini treats is that it has buttery flaky aroma and texture and filled with not-so-dry sweetness and topped healthy fruits! Perfect combination =) They look so colourful, and great for parties, sure to lighten up your dessert spread! "pops whole tart into mouth..hehe" So go hunt for a fruit tart now!

tutti fruiti tarty! =) byee!

birthday boy 2010!

It's time for a birthday! =) My first attempt on sucha BIG cake! But for the birthday boy it's all worth it! It gave me a chance to experiment, I can't just do a cake like that for fun! *jumps* I'm quite happy with the way it turned out for my first attempt even though it has a million flaws and cannot be compared to what I've seen my boss do. Nevertheless I TRIED! hehe =) and birthday boy was happy with it too! *super smiles*

It's Chocolate cake on the inside and I added strawberries in it because we both love strawberries! *yum yum* It was quite a big process doing this mini surprise! It had to be something special, different, sincere, and most of all! SECRETIVE! *ngek ngek ngek* I, myself believe in surprises and the expressions you get it's always a picture perfect memory =). It brings joy to the people I love and of course me too! so it's always a 'thumbs up'! 

The day began with all the usually routines, class and work (saturday)..and all that aside! the mission began! From shopping for the foods, I made dinner too!, (no pictures of that TT ) to calling and answering calls from here and there! Omg! the time constrain, I was in major "must finish in time" mode! before the birthday boy gets home from work! I started with the cake..took me a long long time even though there was days of preparation before. The fear of the cake melting..*tit* the air condition..and the making those 2 cute little animals on the top. It's a giraffe and an elephant if you couldn't tell what it is =)..cute eh? Little elephant trying to give giraffe flower! *cuteness*! hidden meaning the birthday boy knows =).

Before I knew it, it was nearly time! "panic mode kicks in" Had to cook the food, pack everything so I can transport it over and also get MYSELF ready! lol! By the time I was done with the kitchen it looked like a war took place there and I left no SURVIVORS! hehe =) and it was time! Sneaking this in and preparing is the most worrying part cause it's pretty much out of our control =(. Even though not everything I plan turned out, but it was still good =) and I hope he had a wonderful birthday this year and thanks everyone who help! =). Awesomeness! *winks*

Loves!

Macarons Success!

Ello my dear blog! imma have been missing you TT..Sorry!!! *bows bows* I have much been neglecting my blog for the past month...*bad xiaoly =( * I know! But I have not been lazy..well maybe just a little bit..My past few weekends were filled with 'playing pastry sessions with my boss boss and her new friend! =) *smiles* We've been making macarons as you can see from above. Little biscuit made from egg whites, sugar and almond that looks awesome but didn't taste as awesome as I imagined, but still good! They come in all colours and sizes which makes it so cool! Imagine having jars of all colours! WAhhhh like rainbow =)! Boss came up with the idea of putting peanut butter and jam as the filling this time but you can fill it with whatever you want..the possibilities are endless! While the 'Pros' were showing me 'the noob' how it was done, my eyes went like *wahhhhh amazing-nya* Always see them in the books and blogs and never really had a chance of actually doing it, so it was much excitement for me =).

After the big "hooha" of a mess we played, it was time to take pictures! Really fun and I got to be the "hand model" hahaha! =) enjoy the pictures and more yummy-ness coming your way!