December 29, 2011

Prune Layer Cake & Chocolate Tart with Peaches

As salam all..it was a really bbzzzz days since my last entry. So many things are in my head..further more the school are opening soon..school uniforms, stationeries, books to wrap, etc.. And on the other side of me..cakes..and cakes..

This is the second time I made this really delicious, yummy, moist, not too sweet prune layer cake. Thanks Kak Azah, hope your friend likes them.

Note: I deemed it as 'huge' success making this layer cake as I managed to crack and separate all eggs without failure!!! Which I usually had only 50 of success rate!!! The secret? --> Confidence & Poise. Hehehehe!


This was a long time request from my SIL. She saw it somewhere in the net and thought of having this to celebrate her friend's -Nana belated birthday. I am so glad the girls love them..hehehe..Rich Chocolate tart topped with my ever favourite Peaches!!! Can't help to pop in a halved peach in my mouth last night..sedappp!!


I cant be long peeps..and TQ for dropping by via my blog or FB page. And I did received few questions the passed 2 days, and I am sorry I cant reply them as my lappy was having her 'mood swing'. So I'd appreciate to send Qs or anything via my email zsyakirah@gmail.com for faster reply. 

Thank you all !!

December 28, 2011

Rainbow cup cake with cream cheese

It was my eldest son's 7th birthday yesterday. He requested no birthday cake, but a blueberry cheese tart only plus dinner at his fave place. That made mommy happy already.. I looked at him..and oh my, how time flies and how big he is now.. And oh, how old I'd become then.

I ran out of blueberry filling for outer decoration, instead I topped the cheese tart with fresh blueberry.


Just to make the day seems happier & colourful, I also did a rainbow cuppies, just 12 pieces of them, topped with cream cheese. And of course..tasted good!!!!


It was easy to make. I simply used my basic cake recipe and add on the colourings. Shall try other rainbow cuppies in the future..

Ingredients;

125g SRF
125g butter (anchor)
125g caster sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla essence

How to;
Whisk butter and sugar until creamy and fluffy. And in egg, one at a time as well as the essence, and followed with flour. Mix until all combined. Separate into 6 bowls with 1/2 tsp of colouring each.

Baked for 25 minutes at 175 degree temperature.

On the other hand, I also baked below oreo brownies, TQVVM Aida's friend! And TQ you too Aida!!


And yes, I am looking ahead for 2012 to come. And I really hope that 2012 brings the best to everyone.

December 27, 2011

Durian Cotton Soft Cake..

My last bake for the holiday was Durian Cotton Soft cake..TQ Aida!! Yours tasted good though, shall need to try again and see where went wrong on the texture.


Right after sending the cake to Aida's, i dropped off at my good friend house's Kak Azah. She passed me some macarons as she had been baking them for requests. I tasted one and got hooked!! Not too sweet like i usually had from the shop and the filling was flavour full!!! Turned out, i bought a box from her..and thinking of taking some pics to show off to all.. Once i got home, my kids gobbled all the 'gula-gula' and left was the wrapping. My eldest son softly reminded me, "Mommy, is this the 'gula-gula' yang Mommy buat tak jadi dulu?" . I kept silence.. :P    Here is Kak Azah's , in case any one would like to indulge into some macs!!

Have a sweet days ahead all!!

December 25, 2011

In holiday mood..

First and foremost..photos were taken by my Blackberry at such wee hours with a trembled hand who eagerly asked me to sleep..there were no motivation to produce such nice pics but to wrap all and enter my one and only 'cave'..

Nonetheless, happy holiday to all..it was such a pleasant weekend..no rush..Shah Alam was empty..such a peace going to Giant with no queue.. Below were all last Friday's night bakes..

All the followings were brought to my IL..crunchy coconuts cookies..errrr..the taste indeed was better than the look..trust me LOL!!


Victoria sandwich cake with strawberry jam..my FIL said..sedap nyer.. :)


And a chocolate cake for my darling niece Alya who turned 1..


TQVVM Kak Sya on the Congo bars and chocolate cake..glad you like it..you paid more than it worth, i shall send you some goodies soon ya..



 
Red velvet cake for McNa! TQVVM and glad to meet you after almost 10 years..you still chomel la.. :)


Till the peeps..happy holiday!

December 23, 2011

Gift for the loved ones..

Good morning..

Below orders were from Yati, for her loved ones and all were freshly baked last night!. It's really a thoughtful gesture to give out sweet treats for your friends and family in showing love and care! My mom once said to me, by giving out its closes relationship and blooms love..

Ermmm...I received a new baking tool from hubby yesterday and i m in love :)

TQ Yati! TQVVM..

Two chocolate cheese brownies, with chocolate drizzle on top.


One mini Red Velvet cake.


One normal size Red Velvet cake.


And in return, coconut crunchy cookies for the ladies..


It'll be a long weekend ahead..enjoy and safe trip to all!!

December 21, 2011

Today's bakes & cakes..

All four cakes were all baked last nite, lucky one had forwarded the date or it'll be 5 items to bake all together. I purposely accumulate the orders and did it in a shot. The reason being was i try not to get too busy nightly. The kids were complaining of the smell lingering when they sleeps (though ventilation fan as well hob was on) and they also complained why am i baking all these when i should be watching tv with them. So i try to pool in orders but in case there are orders for specific date/day, then it could be done with no hesitation.

Red velvet cake. TQVVM Kak Nor & really hope you and family likes it.


Blueberry cheese cake. TQVVM Azira & hope tastes good!


The followings were ordered by Nik. Mini red velvet cake as well as congo bars. TQVVVM and hope you likes it!




Till then peeps. It's school holiday, time aren't my best friend though.

December 18, 2011

Oreo Brownies..again..

My last bake for the week was, oreo brownies from Aida's friend..TQ Aida & friend!! This brownies was among the most ordered goodies. Try it then you'll know it and most important, it's my hubby's fave!


The kids are not well, so no body was in eating mood. Therefore no self bake goodies at home. Yet, my craving for sweetness must be fulfilled.. Hiong Piah cookies given by neighbour..yummy with a cup of hot tea..


Have a good week ahead peeps!!

December 17, 2011

To infinity and beyond..

To infinity and beyond..that's a tough statement which definitely doesn't apply to me. Buzz is sure one tough guy, who would walk the talk, holding on to his words..to infinity and beyond! Good for you Buzz, that's what made the kids are crazy over you.

TQVM Tini for below order. Moist chocolate cake with chocolate ganache in number 1 shape for her son. Hope you'll like the cake dear! And happy birthday Akiff.


Below are congo bars, with walnuts, choc chips and Werthers caramel candy inside, with drizzle of caramel on top. TQVVM Kak Hana, hope you like it, and should still ok by the time you reach Penang.


Yeay it's weekend..more time with your loved ones!!! Take care peeps!!

December 14, 2011

Red Velvet Cake Pop with Chocolate Coating

I have been trying to try to make a cake pop for ages! Alhamdulillah I managed to complete it with SUCCESS last nite!!!! Alhamdulillah, again..I've been doing some reading (as usual), with good and bad reviews..one said, it was easy-peasy, one said it was complicated and tend to fail.. I guess it is true, try it, then you know it! And do it your own way, much more at ease i reckon.

I have saved up, yesterday's RV cuppies and made a fresh cream cheese last nite. My main reference was Bakerella.com, and it was quite fun and i liked doing it!! At first i thought the taste of RV would be way too horrible.. but some how, with presence from the chocolate coating..it was awesome! This is something new, totally new! Everyone should try it, using your fave cake & topping..as a cake pop..and it's a great way to give away as a gift..wrap nicely in a box..lalalala...pretty food is simply a good way to show your love to others..

Tadaaaaaa..my Red Velvet Cake Pop!!!!



Happy with the cake pop outcome..I happily baked below oreo brownie & congo bar for Aida. TQVVVM dear..I hope u'd like them all..This time the congo bar was a bit different from the one I made before. Aida is a caramel fan..So I did add some caramel cream candy (Werther's ) in the batter, plus additional caramel drizzle on the top..owhhhh, only if i could indulge on these.. Note: Having Werther's was inspired by Kak Yani ..TQ!

Oreo brownie with shredded dark and white chocolate.


Congo bars with chocolate chips, walnuts, crushed Werther's caramel candy & caramel drizzle on top.


It's Wednesday already..still, not too late to wish, a good week to all lovely peeps! And TQ!

December 13, 2011

The ever famous Red Velvet!

This entry is an info as well as personal experience sharing to all. I am not a food critic or qualified food commenter because taste or preference of a person differs from one to another. It's a very subjective issue to be said and discussed. Nonetheless, here are something to share and probably something we can learn from..  


First of all, I must tell that my latest craze and favourite flavour is Red Velvet cake/cuppies!!!!! Sorry choco, life & circumstances change..and so do I.. The creamy cheese + tangy cake taste, pheww..i drool. 


Well, you cant love someone without knowing it. And thanks mr Wiki & Google for such info which I am sharing with you all..


What's a Red Velvet cake

red velvet cake is a popular cake with a dark red, bright red or red-brown color. It is usually prepared as a layer cake topped with a creamy vanilla icing or most popularly, cream cheese icing. The reddish-brown color of the cake was originally from a reaction of the cocoa powder with an acidic ingredient such asbuttermilk; however red food coloring is often added.
Common ingredients include buttermilkbutterflourcocoa,and beetroot or red food coloring. The amount of cocoa used varies in different recipes. Cream cheese frosting is most commonly paired with the cake, as well as the traditional buttercream.[1]

History of Red Velvet cake
James Beard's 1972 reference American Cookery[2] describes three red velvet cakes varying in the amounts of shortening and butter. All use red food coloring, but the reaction of acidic vinegar and buttermilk tends to better reveal the red anthocyanin in the cocoa. Before more alkaline "Dutch Processed" cocoa was widely available, the red color would have been more pronounced. This natural tinting may have been the source for the name "Red Velvet" as well as "Devil's Food" and similar names for chocolate cakes.[3][1] While foods were rationed during World War II, bakers used boiled beets to enhance the color of their cakes. Boiled grated beets or beet baby food are found in some red velvet cake recipes, where they also serve to retain moisture.
In Canada the cake was a well-known dessert in the restaurants and bakeries of the Eaton's department store chain in the 1940s and 1950s. Promoted as an exclusive Eaton's recipe, with employees who knew the recipe sworn to silence, many mistakenly believed the cake to be the invention of the department store matriarch, Lady Eaton.[4]
A resurgence in the popularity of this cake is partly attributed to the 1989 film Steel Magnolias in which the groom's cake (a southern tradition) is a red velvet cake made in the shape of an armadillo.[1]In recent years, red velvet cake has become increasingly popular and can usually be found in most cupcake bakeries.


And actually I am not much of a cup cake person. I usually think or most of time found that the flavour and texture of the cake will change when you have as 1 whole cake compared to small portion of cup cake. But, as I am baking it, I tried to control the temperature of oven, arrangement of tray as well as the combination of the ingredient..and at last, I must again say that my RV cake and cup cake tasted the SAME! 


How to enjoy your RV cup cake


Due to the above, these past 2 days, I have been enjoying with no guilt of my RV cuppies. And I also found that, these delicious cup cakes must be eaten the right way or again the flavour and texture may change. As sometimes i observed that people simply squeeze the bottom part to push out the cup cake from the casing..that shall change the cake texture!


Step #1: Peel of the solo cup. Best when u place the cup cake on a plate. You may tend to squeeze the the cup cake while holding it.







Step #2: Using a fork, cut into 4 portions and ensure each potion should have it's cream cheese on top.

Step#3: When eating, ensure the cheese and the cake melts in your mouth to maximize the full flavour!

Step#4: Repeat step 1,2, 3 for your next cuppies..nyummmm..

What's the best RV cake taste

I have tasted few RV from several bakery shop as well as home-bakers and the best red velvet cake should taste as the following:

1. The cake should be moist, soft, fluffy and a bit crumbly. Not dry.
2. The cake should not taste bitter. The taste is creamy and delicate due to the combination of vinegar, buttermilk and cocoa. 
3. The cake should be using good quality butter to have the creamy taste. Not using oil, as the after taste is not enjoyable at all. (Sorry, I just cant have oil in my cake except for carrot cake)
4. The cream cheese should be very creamy cheese with a tinge of lemony taste. This cream cheese just the best complimentary to the cake.

How to get a best Red Velvet

I found below while google-ing, and I guess I do share it here.
1. The cake must have some cocoa, but not too much because it is not a chocolate cake.
2. The cake must have red food coloring; beet juice does not add the right kind of red.
3. The cake must have cream cheese frosting.
4. There should be pecans. (This was news to me.)
5. You must use high-quality ingredients, including White Lily flour, a Southern specialty flour.
6. Precise measurements and meticulous attention to detail are key for this cake; therefore, it must be made in small, easy-to handle, family-sized batches. (Mass-produced batter just doesn't cut it. Sorry, large-scale bakeries.)
7. You must use a hand-held electric mixer, not a stand mixer: Larger machines can over-mix the batter, which sometimes prevents the cake from rising properly. 
8. Red velvet cake batter needs vegetable oil, not butter or shortening. (ermmm..i still prefer butter..sorry!!)

I guess the above info sharing should be sufficient for all Red Velvet cake lover, especially me.. When i say i love something, i really mean i love it! Enjoy your Red Velvet cake!

December 11, 2011

Zebra and leopard in the house!!

Today was our family photoshoot (woooshh macam gempak jer bunyik) with Selphya Photography. Turned out Aimie (tokey Selphya) order Red Velvet cuppies with zebra & leopard skin theme for her coming event this evening..


TQVM Aimie, nice meeting you! Aimie & hubby handled kids so much at ease. All my boys who never ever want to look into any camera, turned out to be supermodels..ahakkss.. again tqvm, nanti kami pi singgah Penang na..

Hope we cam meet again another time..lupa lak nak amik gambar with Aimie!!

December 10, 2011

It was a short Saturday..

I almost did not feel the day today..woke up, zassss here..zasss there and now it's nite already! It was so fast..

Moist Red Velvet cake and cuppies for Amalina. TQVM dear, nice meeting you sweet girl! And hope you  enjoy the RVs.


And..the following was done for my angah's Aqiqah..Chocolate Peanut brownie..packed individually..


Moist double chocolate cuppies with peanut-butter frosting.. Sedap!!


Moist RV cuppies..and actually i also made carrot cuppies but unfortunately..no photos..grrrrr too bz.. 


Lastly, for Atik..most RV cuppies..TQVM atik..u r the best..


Alhamdulillah.. Cant wait for tomorrow!!! I'll tell you on the next post :) Good nite all..

December 8, 2011

Bake free day..

Last nite was a bake free nite..that was good, at least i have ample time to browse and check on latest/newest bakery/cakery etc item via google.

I am also planning for baking required this weekend. All my essential items to be stocked up;
- Anchor butter - checked
- Beryl's dark chocolate - checked
- Oreo biscuits - checked
- Caster sugar from Bagus - checked
- Anchor whipping cream - checked
- Dutch Lady full cream milk - checked
- Daisy corn oil - checked
- Grade A eggs - checked
- Philly 2kg cheese - checked

the above are a must..just to ensure constant taste and texture for my bakings..

But by morning, i felt weird and just had to turn on the oven..

Here it goes..baked macaroni and cheese (my style :) )

It's simple..just prepare boiled macaroni and your favourite pasta sauce. And placed into greased baking dish.
Whisked 4 eggs with a pinch of salt and oregano leaves. Pour onto your dish.
A packet of mozarella cheese deliberately spread on top.
Baked for 30 minutes..and walla..




And the main reason why i was so lazy to bake..because Garret pop corn was in the house..please take these away from me....i cant stoppp..


And it is true..love is always messy..don't you think.. :)

psstt..i rather hate my photos quality..shall improvise one day..

December 7, 2011

Blueberry Cheese Cake

My kids simply loves anything with cheese. Be it dessert or main meal. And of course who would refuse something cheesy and delicious..

I baked this blueberry cheese cake last nite into 7 inch pan, now  almost by 3 pm..there were only 1/4 left.. They had  it at breakfast and as dessert after lunch...

This cheese cake was simply delicious and so simple to make..try it then you know it's worth it! The recipe is here at HANA's  . I simply substitute the choc with blueberry. I used to read Hana's blog almost everyday, now since she came back to M'sia..the blog was not updated..Mana lah cikgu Hana nih!



Last nite too, I baked Cotton Soft Durian for Bella. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do yer Bella!! TQVVM!



Have a good week peeps!

December 3, 2011

The best durian cake ever..

Weekend is here again..and since it's the school hols..i have got loads of wedding invitation..urghh cant decide which to go..one thing i like about weddings are the door gift..it's always a surprise..so rare you'll get 'bunga telur'.. always something different and unexpected..

Below are my bakes from last nite..

TQ yatie for ordering Sicilian Orange cake. Hope you enjoy it as before!


My parents were coming over..and since i'll be baking the Sicikian Orange cake, might as well bake more goodies for my parents and brother to enjoy..

Blueberry cheese tart, topped with gummy bear..the kids will sure be crazy on this..


I also baked Durian Cotton Soft cake. I was inspired by Rima..We were actually having durian after dinner and my father asked whether durian cake was easy to make..and of course i replied yes...here..it goes, the best durian cake everrrrr!!! It was soft, moist, almost melts in ur mouth..phewwww..if only i didnt know how many eggs we put in..


Do try this recepi..it's easy , and soooooooooo delicious..

Durian Cotton Cake (from RIMA).. -->  Kak Rima,I copy yer..
Ingredients
60g butter - i used unsalted butter
75g flour
75ml of milk - i used fresh milk
6 egg yolks - whisk lightly (use a fork)
150g durian meat - pureed

6 egg whites
125g sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp lemon juice

Method
1. Warm milk on low heat (not till boiling state) then pour into beaten egg yolks, mix well, set aside. Keep it warm.

2. Boil butter, turn off the heat, and add in sifted flour, stirring until blended or till batter is smooth.. add in pureed durian meat.. stir well and immediately add in whipped egg/milk mixture into it, Mix both mixture using a whisk / spatula until blended, set aside.

3. Whisk egg white with salt.. once u see bubbles add in sugar a little at a time till soft peak.. add in lemon juice and continue to whisk for a few second - (do not whisk ur egg white till stiff peak ok)

4. Take 1/4 part of ur egg white .. fold it into ur egg yolk mixture.. mix it gently.. pour mixture back into beaten egg whites.. fold in gently as to prevent ur mixture to deflate. Add in rum bakar or vanilla extract if u like.. (i didnt use any).

5. Pour batter into ur UNGREASED 8" baking pan.. bake it using bain marie method in a preheated oven of 155C for half an hr or till its 3/4 done.. lower ur temp to 150C and continue to bake for a further 35 mins..

go on try ya..till then..take care peeps!

December 1, 2011

Red Velvet cake for Wedding!

Alhamdulillah..with sore and pain, i still managed to bake the following requests. As a result..my tumit is hurt due to long hours of standing..no worries..i'll get this over soon..

TQ Kak Aida..Carrot cake w/out topping..


Chocolate brownie with walnuts..TQ kakak, hope your office mate likes them..


Red velvet cak in a box..TQVM Spunky Candy via Azira..ahakks i like ur nick name..


Next was ordered from Ita..my primary school shool mate..Congo Bar & blueberry cheese tart.


Here carrot cake with cream cheese topping for Amalina..TQ dik!


And these was done last nite for Ain' wedding.. Carrot cake with fondant for hantaran, while below.. 2 tier Red Velvet cake using cheese (layer) and butter cream (coating). Hope you like it ya!



By the time all of these were delivered..am very happy (and sleepy...yawnnn)...TQ all..