Another Teacher's Day celebration

Little princess is having her Teacher's Day celebration tomorrow. After learning what the school is going to do, I am really impressed. There will be no textbook or lesson time. They will have a little party as a class so that the kids can spend some quality time bonding with their teacher. (I wish this happened beginning of the year as I really wonder how much the teacher really understands a class of 30 children). Each child is supposed to bring something to share, just like a potluck party. I was contemplating whether to bake a cake or cupcakes. Nothing fancy as I was only told about this program on Friday and I can't do much as my weekend was filled up, I just couldn't find the energy to do it. Muffin is the easier and not so temperamental. Took out my muffin recipe book and then realised that not too long ago, little princess had attended a muffin making session. Ha, why not let her do it. It will be more meaningful. So here is our little princess’s blueberry muffins to her teachers and friends. Happy Teacher's Day, Ms Wong and 萧老师.

My little sister

My little sister (not that little as she is already 30) is trying to be domesticated I think. She bought some cookie moulds from an online store that I found recently and told her about it. Few weeks back, she attempted it and failed so she rang me last week to arrange for a baking session together. Though this weekend I am so tight on schedule but I find it so hard to turn down her request. It will be nice to have a baking session with your sibling right? In order to made good use of her new cookie cutters, I chose a cut out cookie recipe. I am glad that it is not that difficult to handle and the cookie is nice and buttery. I love her cutters and I might consider buying a set for myself but let me think about it first. Too many impulsive buys is damaging to the pocket. Cute isn't it? I have a big bag of macadamia nuts which I intended to make cookies but have been delaying the action. Just last week, we had Subway sandwiches and they served pretty good cookies, I couldn't resist not having one. The two cookies, I yearned for more. After surfing through the net, by the result, I found that this nut goes well with white chocolate. Though I am no fan of white chocolate, I decided to give this a try as I have two such bags of white hocolate in the fridge and this will be a great way to use them up. The texture is unique in my opinion. It is a chewy cookie and yet crispy at the edge. We like it. What you need: 210g plain flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 113g butter, room temperature 200g sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract 3/4 cup white chocolate chips 120g toasted macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped Method: Preheat oven to 180 degree celcius. Lined pan. Sift flour with baking soda and salt. Cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Add in flour, white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts. Mixed well. Use a ice cream scoop and scoop them into balls. Flatten slightly as this cookie won't expand that much. Bake for 15 min or less. or just until cookie is golden in colour. Cool on tray for awhile and transfer to cool on rack.

Happy Teacher's Day

This week was really hectic and I am really glad that it is coming to an end. Though the first two days were busy preparing for my son's belated birthday celebration. Postponing a tea date with my girlfriends was the saddest but I guess my kid's priority will have to come first. Sorry girlie. AA asked me whether I can help to prepare a cake for Teacher's Day celebration. Since this will be son's last year in this school, I guess I don't want to miss this event. This is the 3rd year running that we turned the AVA room into a little cafe for the teachers to have their breakfast and lunch. I think it got better and better each year. Despite the poor weather that doesn't really help with the fondant flowers but I am actually quite pleased with the end result. The cake was well received by the teachers and principal and that definitely make my day. Happy Teacher's Day!

Happy Birthday

Time flies, we being parents for 12 good years and is really hard to believe that. Such a long time and yet seems so fast that my son is already 12 and my daughter is 7. Yes by God's grace, both are born on the same day same month. Somehow, I think God wanted this to be really special for me as my birthday is also on 23rd. LOLz. As I was sick, I did not have time to prepare any cake for them this year. Instead, we opted for a simple luncheon that our kids love. P suggested this place as it serves really good xiao long bao (小笼包) which supposedly to be better than our usual restaurant but we have to be early to beat the lunch time crowd. It took us quite a while to find. The shop is old and service wasn't fantastic and the menu is really limited. The AC didn't work really well as the shop started to get crowded but I must say the food is good. Perhaps all the dumplings served are freshly made upon order. As for desserts, we had pancakes and glunitous rice ball that were freshly made too. Though I find the red bean filling a little to the sweet side, but I love the crispiness of the crust. As for the glutinous rice ball, it was so good. Every ball has a different filling and the soup is just sweet enough with a mild rose scented. It was awesome. Despite the 炸酱面 (forgotten to take a picture) and the Sweet and Soup soup that is not really fantastic, the rest of the menu was really good. After this meal, our favourite haunt for Xiao Long Bao will be changed to this one. Forget about the place, forget about the attitude, just go for these lovely dumplings is all I care. Even kids agree to that. I will be around that area again next Sat for princess's dress fittings. Wondering whether R and S wanted to have a go at this. Happy Birthday my little prince and princess. Mommy loves you dearest.

Belated

IL rang and asked me whether I wanted to join her for lunch. I told her I am in the midst of preparing a cake for my son's belated birthday party. She asked me why I don't do it on Sunday. Well the reason is simple, no one will come for his birthday party as it is smacked right in the middle of prelim!!! Anyway, with the prelim done, time to give little prince a break. I was told that we will be getting the result on Friday so let's see how well he scored and from there we will work on his PSLE revision. I am seriously not cut out to do whole cake. My "workmanship" really sucks, thus I never take in whole cake orders. I still prefer doing cupcakes as it is less stressful. Sweat and stress aside, I still need to bake a cake for my little prince for his celebration with his buddies because I find it strange to have a birthday party without cutting cake. These two precious are God sent and I am so happy to be part of their growing up journey. Parenting might be tough but yet it brings so much joy to my life. Seeing them set foot on another milestone makes me treasure so much of the time when they were young. The skill, maturity and their dependencies as each year passed amazes me. Seeing them grow makes me want to hold on to those precious moments when they were young and dependent. As he embark on another milestone to young adulthood. I can't help but to marvel how time flies. One moment, he was cuddling in my arms and now he is entering into the teenage phase. Happy Birthday Sweetie.

Story time

When I am ill, I usually am either down with bad tension headache or rashes but yesterday, I was really ill. The night before, I vomited and yesterday morning, I was having diarrhoea and subsequently down with a fever. Anyway, I spent the day in agony. Having the kids at home doesn’t help at all for resting. They were constantly forgetting that mommy is ill and needed that peace. Luckily by late evening, I was feeling little better after I took a flu tablet but I was totally "soft". This morning, it wasn't better either. I was already prepared to visit the doctor after my kids leave for their party. Things got better after my light lunch. I felt my strength coming back. Then I remembered my bread starter dough and the mashed sweet potatoes in the fridge. No choice, it was already delayed for one day. In three hours' time, W will be coming over to pick us up. I didn't get hold of purple sweet potatoes. In fact, I have asked so many places and none sell. Haiz.... simply got to make do with the normal ones. Got the machine working and subsequent proofing. For the first time, I got my helper to help me out. I left instruction for her as to when the oven is ready and put the prepared dough in and when to take the bread out. Perhaps after months of watching me bake, she finally got the "technique". These took much earlier than the expected time to bake. I praised her for her alertness if not, these Sweet Potatoes bread will be ruin and not fit for our breakfast tomorrow. My little princess was invited for a birthday party and these are what she brought home. Do you know the story of each individual's?

A special request

I only give my kids a big birthday bash when they hit their milestones. So last year, my daughter had one big bash when she was six. This year, my son will have one but I think as they grow older, birthday bash is no longer a novelty for them. He requested for a movie cum a makan session instead. As it is smacked right in the middle of the prelim, he opted for a belated celebration instead. As for my little girl. she has been counting down to her birthday since the beginning of the year. She kept fantasying birthday party for herself and who will be on her guest list etc etc. Each time, I have to remind her that I am not giving her a big birthday bash, only a cake to share with her classmates. After this message is set firm in her little mind, she was yet counting down. This time round, she was calculating which day I should bake the cake. Here is her conversation with me. Kae : Mommy, you need to bake the cake on Wed. Mom : Why? Kae : Coz my birthday is on Sunday. We don't go school on Sunday. Mom : True, then we can bring the cake on Friday Kae : But mom, we don't have school for two days. Mom : Huh? Kae : There isn't school on Thurs and Fri. Mom : oh, (suddenly remember) It is the PSLE oral. Okay I got it. Kae : So you need to bake the cake on Wed, right? Mom was smiling and thinking, her little princess is not so "slow" as what her kinder teachers always been saying during her kinder years. Perhaps she is a late bloomer but I am really glad that she can differentiate things like such. Preparing this cake took me a big effort as I needed to attend yesterday’s party. It didn’t leave me with much time. Despite having the concept in mind, I met with so many difficulties. Firstly, the cake failed. I have never baked a 10” cake and I was having a hard time baking it. First, it was not cooked in the centre and then after, it was overcooked and by the time the cake cooled down. It was rock hard. I dumped the whole cake into the bin, feeling dejected and frustrated. I was on the verge of giving up and just get a cake off the shelf. But little princess saw me preparing all those animal toppers and I don’t know how am I going to explain it to her. That pushes me on. Finally I got the cake done right, the next obstacle was getting that marshmallow fondant right. I have done it before but somehow this time round, I felt myself panting real hard when I was kneaded it. It was so sticky. Could it be the weather? Also I lack the right tools for such big cake. Perhaps it is time to get additional tools. Should I or should I not? haiz. As I reduced the cake size, my toppers seems too crowded on this tiny cake. Also I broke some of the toppers and I have to redo it. I am totally disappointed with the result but was praying real hard that little princess will like it. I am glad that I saw that happy and proud face of her as she celebrates this special moment with her classmates. I am really not cut out to bake whole cake but at least I tried. To those mommies who love to bake or inspired to bake a cake for your kid and don’t have the courage. Do it now, you don't have many opportunities. Once they grow up, such things don't interest them anymore. Happy Birthday Sweetie.

Farm town

Since we reconciled at the last class reunion, our relationship also renewed when we played our online game, farm town together. The cyber world is so powerful. Anyway, D is in town for a short break and she suggested that we meet up. We couldn't decide on the venue but gracious F offered her place instead. It is good choice as her place is spacious enough to host a group of wild and boisterous gals. While we, trying to gather as many IJ gals and F trying desperately trying to unpack her 140 carton boxes of shipment that arrived just last week. Amazingly, she accomplished this tough mission. The house was speck and span when we arrived. GL pointed out that it seems like farm town party rather than an IJ party. Since last Sunday was D's birthday, we took the opportunity to celebrate. F requested cupcakes from me as many had not have a chance to taste them. So here is my Farm Town Cupcakes for the gang. The evening was so good and I had never laughed so hard for the longest time. This group of girls is still as bubbly as before. They haven’t changed. Still the same way old girls as I remembered them. We had so much fun laughing ourselves of yesteryears. GL such a pity you needed to leave early. Definitely we have to do this once more.

Why aren't you smiling?

I thought I can sleep a little later today but as usual, I was woken up by this bloody headache. In the end, I took two muscle relaxer and pray that the ache will go away as I wanted to make pau. Initialy I wanted to go for the course but WL told me she have the recipe and was really kind to share with me. Actually it was weeks ago, but somehow somewhere, something new took me away from doing that. Thus, I set about preparing the starter dough the day before knowing that this morning I am going make Chicken Pau today. The starter dough needed 12 hours to ferment. The volume of the dough was a lot and after using up all the 600g of chicken filling. I still have some left. Shall leave it in the freezer for my next trial again. I was disappointed by the outcome. It has this slight yellow tinge on it despite me using Hongkong flour. Texture while hot is good but it turn a little dry upon cooling. The dough also breaks easily, so I was having problem loading more filling and yet able to pleat it. I guess my pleating failing as my pau wasn't smiling at all. The saving grace was that it didn't taste bad at all but best eaten while it is piping hot.

Absent minded

I was looking forward to this weekend, to laze around in the comfort of my little home and not be out in the sun. The thought of not having any commitments (both official and unofficial) sounded so relaxing. For the past few days, I was having this tension headache that I was like a vampire to the sunlight. I can't stay home as I do need to fulfil my duty as a mom to ferry my kids to and fro from school. Then a sms message to remind me of a dinner date. Damn, I totally forgotten about it. I would definitely love to catch up with AL and FA. It has been three months or more that I haven't seens these lovely ladies and best of all, A is going to cook for us. I have never known that A can cook. A chance that I am definitely not going to miss. The dinner was good. AL's cream of mushroom and her potatoes salad is to die for. I will definitely try to recreate these soon. I did a quick Chocolate Lemon Pie for dessert. I was happy that the group likes it except that FA didn't like the sourish lemon curd. The company is awesome. Having A's friend Ah L that night was great too. He was such great conversationist that we didn't even notice that the clock strike 12. It is okay, we can sleep late on a Sunday.

Going to be hotter

These few days, the weather has been giving me such bad headache that I have no mood even to be on the computer. Wanted to bake some cookies but yet the mood is like dead. It didn't help that I have some cupcake projects commitment to deliver. Each day, I am like cooking inside my car while waiting for my son to finish school. I heard that the days to follow will be even hotter than now. Talking about global warming, I guess perhaps this is our punishment for not treating the earth kinder. Anyway, I am actually glad that this week is only 4 days week. Definitely I am looking forward to the weekend. Bought some dried beancurd and gingko nuts. Then I forgotten that I don't have barley to go with it. Haiz... definitely not leaving the house again for this one. Hope my Beancurd with Gingko Nut ( 腐竹白果糖水) is enough to soothe those body heat. Maybe I should get my kids to perform some rain dance. I badly needed it!!!

Rest and relax

I have been really busy for the past few days. The National Day long weekend was jam packed with activities and it went by really fast.

Last Friday was a half day school for the kids, we decided to have a little picnic with some friends at the botanical garden. It was great fun for all.

The children played really well together and we, mommies were relaxing. I was trying not to tire myself as I had another gathering in the night.

Thus, I was really lazing around while A entertained the kids with many games. She is so good with kids, I wish she will join us another time for such event.



By night fall, I was just too lazy and tired to meet up with my group of clubber mommies. DC kept buzzing me on the phone to go down.

As I haven't seen many of them since June and DC promised me that I will enjoy myself.

With hubby's offer to give me a ride, I went along.

The night was simply full of laughter, good music and many rounds of drinks. They are just really a bunch of wonderful people to hang out and let loose.

Last weekend, I "burst" my wallet big time, I was down in Singapore Expo. Though tired from lack of sleep the night before, I left the place definitely a happy bird.

SC found me in Facebook and he took the opportunity to invite me and my family for a gathering on National Day.

I can't believe that I haven't seen this group of friends for the last 22 years.

Yes it was that long ago. Amazingly, among the guys, SC didn't change much. I did bake a brownie hoping to share with them but it was a huge disaster and nothing pleasant to show here.

Thanks for allowing me to meet all your wives. I had a great sumptuous meal and I still can't forget that lovely chicken curry I had. LOLz.

I also did some bonding with my parents as well as my siblings. Sometime, I wish I just live next door to them. As both families are residing just next to each other, it is just so convenient.

After a nice home cooked meal at my sister's place last night. It reminded once again that I need to tantalise my taste bud.

Yes, helper's cooking is numbing mine with the same flavour again and again. Here is my Stir fry Chayote with meat. I love Chayote.

Mom was the first one to introduce this lovely gourd. It has this lovely crunchy and yet sweet texture.



What you need:

2 medium size Chayote, skinned and sliced
Lean pork, sliced
Corn flour
Soya sauce
Pepper
Fish Sauce
Minced garlic

Method:

Marinate pork with soya sauce and pepper and a little corn flour.

Heat wok with oil, sautee garlic till fragrant.

Add pork and stir fry till cooked.

Add in Chayote and stir fry with a little water.

Give a small dash of fish sauce if your soya sauce is less salt type.

Serve hot with white rice.

Note: Do not over cook the chayote or else it won't be crunchy.

I bought a bottle of Mizkan Yaniku sauce last weekend and gosh, it is absolutely delicious.

Yaniku Chicken with Green Pepper. Then again, I wish I know how to prepare this sauce from scratch. Anyone knows how?

Zip zap and it is coming to the end

Time really flies, last Sat, my son sat for his Prelim Oral. When Prelim arrives, it also indicates that PSLE won't be that far away. I have seen vast improvement on my little prince's attitude. At least he is showing more interest in wanting to do well. He is more motivated and a little better in focusing. I am actually quite pleased with these changes. Even if he doesn't do well, at least he tried and that matters most to both hubby and I. To those mommies out there who has kids sitting for Prelim, all the best to you especially your kid. We definitely need to give ourselves a pat on the shoulder for this journey and it is coming to an end of another milestone of our kids' life. I have not been baking bread for a few weeks and was itching to try new recipes. I just bought two book shelves and was sorting out my large collection of recipes and I saw this thick binder of recipes that J had tediously photocopied for me. Terrible me as I have totally forgotten about this. She has accumulated 200 odd recipes during her many years in learning how to bake from a baking school. Though I am not sure of the standard for this school but J definitely an angel for having such a generous heart. This is what I chosen from the binder. Cream Cheese Bun. I actually forgotten to add in the raisin thus my bread has a savoury taste to it rather than sweet. Overall, it is nice and soft. Now I am waiting for a trial of a second day bread. Will let you know the outcome later. What you need: Yield 20 pcs 400 g Cream Cheese 80g Caster Sugar 500g Bread Flour 10g Wheat Gluten 13g Dried Yeast 125g Egg 100ml Water 200g Black Raisin 8g Salt Toppings : - 100 to 200g Cream Cheese 50g Walnut (chopped) Beat cream cheese slightly to soften Put in piping bag, cut a small hole, ready to pipe Method: Beat cream cheese & sugar till soft Add in the rest of ingredients except raisin & salt, mix thoroughly Add in salt, continue to beat Remove, knead for a while, cover to ferment for 15 mins. (if dough too sticky, add 10 to 20 gm flour) Measure to 60 gm each Add in raisin and roll into round shape, cover & ferment for another 45 mins. before egg wash After egg wash, pipe cheese toppings on top Sprinkle with some fine sugar and almond flakes Bake at 200 ˚C for 10 to 15 mins. _____________________ Thanks Wen's Delight for giving me this award even though I don't consider myself as creative at all. Nevertheless, thanks so much as it is definitely a nice booster for my lonely blog. The Kreativ Blogger Award comes with some rules: 1. You must thank the person who has given you the award. 2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog. 3. Link to the person who has nominated you for the award. 4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting. 5. Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers. 6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate. 7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs to let them know that they have been nominated. Now, 7 things that you might or might not be interested. 1I adore Butter Crabs. To some who recently had a chance to have dinner with me, you know where my favourite haunt is. 2. I am an ice cream lover. Thank goodness for the gravity force, it doesn't show much when I am seated down. 3. As much as I like to hang out in coffee clubs, I only drink decaffeinated coffee and it is not every coffee joint that I can find this. aarrggh. 4. I love my wine and cheese and my vodka with bitter-lemon but have really been cutting down alot on this. Drinking in Singapore is really expensive. 5. I like bitter dark chocolate. The more bitter, the better it is for me because then I don't have to share with anyone in the family. hahaha 6. I thank God for blessing me two wonderful kids and a loving hubby who doesn't mine my loudness and frankness. 7. I hate routines. Don't ask me to do the same thing over and over again, weeks after weeks. Waiting for my kids to finish their classes is actually torturing me but I do it because I love them so. I haven't really been blog hopping much this year and I definitely missed out on all my favourite blogs. Nevertheless, you are not forgotten. Lily's Wai Sek Hong - for the never ending sumptuous menu she dishes out from her kitchen regularly. Kitchen Unplugged - for those awesome photograph and food styling that actually makes you want more. All that Matters - for making mahjong comes alive. Glad's passion - for having those nimble fingers that turned pieces of boring sugar dough to into a joy. The viewfinder of Mr and Mrs Kwok - for churning out those terribly delicious looking desserts that makes me yearn to have a bite. Have fun gals/guy.

Challenges

My next on the list is Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Topping. This is also this month's Sweet and Simple Bakes chosen recipe.

I just adore Marie and Rosie's recipe pick. It is such fuss free recipe that I believe any one can managed it perfectly. In fact, this recipe doesn’t even need any gadget to make it.

Though I wish I can participate on a monthly basis but sometime, time is a major factor.

My dear son just started his preliminary examination and we are hoping that he will put in his best shots so that at least he knows where he stands for his PSLE.

Thus my major focus for these two months will be on this dear little precious. After that, hey it will be mommy's turn to chill out and relax.

In the meantime, if you like Carrot cake just like me, do try this. It is really very delicious and it is perfect for any celebration or simply an afternoon tea.

Definitely I am keepingt this wonderful recipe.



Serves 12
What you need:

180g self-raising (self-rising) flour
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
Pinch of salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
½ tsp mixed spice (Pumpkin pie spice)
2 eggs 150 ml (5 fl oz) vegetable or sunflower oil
200g soft light or dark brown sugar
300g grated carrots
100g sultanas
75g walnuts, chopped (optional)

Cream Cheese Icing

75g (3 oz) cream cheese
75g (3 oz) softened butter
125g (4½ oz) icing sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract

For Decoration Sprinkles or walnut halves - optional

You will need a 13cm x 23cm (5 in x 9 in) loaf tin, oil and line the loaf tin with greaseproof paper.

Method

Preheat the oven to 150°C/300°F/Gas mark 2.

Sift all the dry ingredients into a bowl and leave aside.

Beat the eggs in a large bowl, now add the oil, brown sugar, grated carrot, sultanas and chopped walnuts.

Stir in all sifted dry ingredients and bring the mixture together with a wooden spoon.

Turn into the prepared tin, smooth the top of the mixture and bake in the oven for 1 – 1¼ hours or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out on a wire rack to cool completely.

To make The Cream Cheese Frosting:

Beat the cream cheese and butter together in a bowl until combined.

Add the vanilla extract, icing sugar and mix to combine.

Using a palette knife, spread the frosting evenly over the top of the cooled cake.

Add the sprinkles or walnut halves if desired.

Served cut into slices.