Happy Birthday Hobbes

Cheese + blueberry lover = the return of the sticky chocolate blueberry cheesecake.

Actually, have been planning with Little Bro aka Manjakid, for a surprise birthday do for Hobbes... originally, we wanted to do the "birthday cake scare" - appearing with the cake outside the studio after Hobbes' Saturday BBalance at The Curve... Then I cancelled that plan. Because, it's fasting month and the gals, my usual surprise party squad will not be able to participate. So, discussed with Farid and we thought it was best to arrange for a buka puasa dinner which comes with a belated birthday celebration then.

Later I found out that Hobbes was teaching pump last night (Friday) and thought perhaps I could whip up a cake for a little surprise for him on Friday night. But bro said they had a dinner arrangement. Besides, it was quite tiring baking a cake after work, late after work. So I told bro that I'll think of something but most probably belated then.

THEN, I thought, since I was suppose to go to The Curve today (Saturday) why don't I just drop a birthday present for Hobbes? After considering hard and long, I couldn't think of anything perfect to get him. So, at the end, I'd revived the original little birthday surprise do at gym, but slight amendment to executing it before Hobbes' class, and imported my personal surprise party squad - my sis, cousin sis and bro in law. And of course the Manjakid as the very insider and head of birthday song choir.

The cake was trimmed this time, so the layers were more visible. Compared with the last one I made.

But it's too plain for a birthday cake right. So Hippo (courtesy of my little cousin) was on duty again. Still quite plain. So I added the birthday tag, which gave more colour to the cake, and might as well add a matching ribbon.

Cake was then placed in a present box instead of the usual cake box, finished with a gold bow, didn't look like a cake at all, but forgot to take a picture of that. Did it this way slso, just in case if Hobbes was late, then I can still pass him the present quickly, without the celebration.

So, there we were at gym, the reception kindly let the rest of the non-gym members in with me and we waited at the reception area. The "present" was placed on the table for the birthday-boy-to-be (actual day 18 Sept k guys) to unveil the "surprise". Well, Hobbes were somehow surprise when I told him to come and "meet" his present (told him the night before that I wanted to pass him something, didn't suspect me at all meh?). Bet he was really wondering what present I've gotten him (erm... what else can a baker offer ah?) and was (I hope) pleasantly surprise to see the cake. If my record is right, blueberry and cheese should be his favorites.

Once Hobbes had settled down with the cake, and I'd lit up the candle, Manjakid had happily gathered a birthday song choir. Plus my personal squad, we made an impressively loud birthday song presentation, or was it loud enough? We wanted to do a second take for better effect, but I supposed we were hushed by the very shy birthday boy.

Hobbes had certainly made the cake look delicious, quite a perfect model if I need someone to advertise for my cakes. Aren't you convinced that the cake was delicious with this kind of face expressions? This also gives the "indulge in the cake but would not get fat" message. Mwah hahaha...

I remembering saying that the baking of the cake was not messy as described by the founder of this recipe, but apparently she meant the eating part being messy not the baking. Well, it was indeed quite messy since the centre of the cake was self-saucing type. Better to do this with plates and spoons - oppss... sorry, didn't think of organizing these. And of course the cake will be more "manageable" if it was straight out from the fridge. Nevertheless, since self-saucing chocolate puddings are normally being served immediately from the over, I find this the best arrangement for serving self-saucing chocolate dessert at places far from the oven.

I had a great time indulging myself in the scene of happy faces and contented look of savouring the cake. I think indulging my friends is the best way to indulge myself also.

Happy birthday darling, and here are the pictures of the hippo...