Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache

Makes a batch of cupcakes for DH's colleagues. I cheated a bit, I used Pilsbury's cake mix to make the cupcakes, lol.
I still find Betty Crocker's one better but its much harder to find Betty's products in shelves here. Next time will still go back to Betty's. This is my first time doing the rose swirl. I am quite satisfied with the result (use Wilton 2D to get the rose swirl)
Hope to get good response from DH's colleagues.

14 cupcakes

Alan Ooi Baking Class - 28 May 2011

Attended another baking class on cupcakes by Alan. Mostly malays attended, nevertheless the friendly Alan still try his best to communicate with us in Mandarin sometimes.
The cupcakes are easy to make and the icings are still a bit on sweet side

Alan Ooi

Chocolate Cupcake with Royal Icing

Blueberry Cupcake with Cream Cheese Topping

Coffee Walnut Cupcake with Buttercream

Cupcakes to bring home

Mini Milk Bun

I am still not good with bread. Guess it has to do with the time as well. I started preparing after I reached home at about 6.30pm.. this bread needed extra time compare to the normal bread
Nevertheless, I still go ahead with shorter proofing and kneading. The bread is only so so... add with some blueberry jam. The next day there is a yeast smell , I just served it to Mr Bin.

9 mini buns

Top with blueberry jam

Bags

My friends went Europe and I got the opportunity to get some bags with cheaper price.
But burn a big hole in my pocket.
I have to be thrifty from now on.

New member in the family

LV

MiuMiu

Burberry

Apple Yogurt Cake

A recipe from Alex Goh from his book . The cake is soft, probably due to the 120g yogurt. Apple was too soft till I can barely notice there is actually apple cubes inside.
Can even do without it the next time if you dont have apples at home.

Nevertheless, the cake is has strong buttery smell (the kind of butter cake I like) with the use of 250g SCS Butter. Good choice of butter!


Yield a 9" cake - but a bit short



For my sis and mum

Chocolate Bottom Banana Muffin

Saw the frenzy on this recipe and immediately put this on my top to-do-list. I myself dont like any bake that has to do with banana but still go ahead with the bake.

The cake itself is easy to make. I took a pcs to try and still do not like banana in cake.
Put into 10 cupcakes and a small loaf. Cupcakes for colleagues and small loaf for me and family.

If other ppl wish to eat, I will make again. Or else, I won't be baking it for my own consumption.

Other Bakes

Let sum up what are some bakes that I have done before I set up this blog.

Peach Pastry Cake

Maple Madeleines

Condensed Milk Pound Cake

Mini Cream Puff

English Loaf

Mille Crepe

Mini Butter Bun

Kuih Lapis

Yau's Coffee Walnut Birthday Cake

Pandan Chiffon

Japanese Cotton Cheesecake

Orange Chiffon

Short Family Trip to Penang

Last weekend, me and Renee's family and mum (altogether 9 ppl) were having a short vacation in Penang. There were some 'not-so-nice' incidents happened. Nevertheless, the whole trip is still very enjoyable. The weather - HOT. Luckily we rented a car and mostly we were hiding in the car looking and enjoying the scene in Penang.

We purposely chosen a resort near the beach so that we can have a getaway from our usual busy life, and better, we can let the kids to enjoy the beach.

View from the room

Evening, enjoying the sea breeze

With my mum

Water Spot - others of course!

Baking Class

I received good review from hubby's colleagues on the Strawberry Shortcake I made for them. They commented the cake and decoration is nice and they even requested for me to open a baking class for them. I dont think so as I'm not patient enough to explain steps by steps to others. Nevertheless, I can still tell them where to go for classes where they will be taught by professional bakers.

Me myself have attended two baking classes in Perling Indah. Not really 'like' the way they handle the class - I mean the proprietor of Perling Indah, not the teacher. I am very happy with the teachers, they are patient and they are very friendly!

I missed Alex Goh class few weeks back - I surely will attend in the future if he comes again. Got books for him to sigh leh... lol

I have signed up for Kevin Chai class in June - Very looking forward, I heard he is super nice too.

Below is the photos of baking class I attended - Ms Tan (Fondant decoration on cake - tiring class and nothing for us to take back) and another is Alan Ooi (Black Forest Cake and Chocolate Banana Cake) - nice class and yummy cake slices to bring home.

Strawberry Cake

This is my first time to do a strawberry cake, or is it called Strawberry Shortcake? I dont really know the different. But a Strawberry Shortcake does sound cuter. Having complete this cake, I realise my frosting skill is really very poor. I should find some times, take up some piping and frosting classes in future. Or else, my cake will never look pro enough like how outside selling.

For the decoration, I have been searching high and low for a good looking decoration yet that is simple enough and not too time consuming. I dont have too much time considering that I reach home at 6.30pm, have to attend to Ashley, dinner, baking the cake and frosting/decorating.

I baked the cake and left it to cool at 7.30pm. Then off to do my routine housework and put Ashley to sleep.
I only have time for the cake again at 10.00pm. Started with the levelling and decoration .. Natalie (Maybank) was in house discussing details of some re-financing house loan with hubby. I didnt bother, I have to start or I can never finish by 11pm. Luckily enough, I did manage to finish before 11pm.
Then take a photo for remembering and then off to sleep. Wondering will the birthday girl be happy with the cake or not.