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...

Sticky Chocolate Blueberry Cheesecake

It's my younger auntie's birthday (my younger cousin sis, TLA's mum) and we've decided to throw her a surprise birthday do. We were suppose to send TLA home on Sunday night, my sis, MasterChef was appointed the cake presenter, along with Alan, BIL to shield her from my auntie's view when we approach the house. OF COURSE my aunt was surprised, and very touched too (and I'm almost running out of ideas on surprise party...)

I've got this recipe from my sis' friend in UK. It's a hybrid of a fudge like chocolate cake and a baked cream cheesecake with blueberries. So the cross section with show a layer of thick pudding like chocolate cake with a layer of cream cheese and bits of blueberries.

Cross-section of the cake

What I should have done was to trim the edges of the cake in order to reveal the layers better, and also to get rid of the "cakey" part of the cake - the centre of the cake was almost like the effect of a self-saucing chocolate pudding! Simply heaven if you ask me.

The centre part of the cake with extremely sticky chocolate

The making of the cake was not that messy as described by the founder of this recipe (So I heard through my sis, by the way thanks a lot Kirtsy for the recipe! - sorry I've change the name of the cake though...) The chocolate cake base was easy to make since did not require using electric mixer, well, it's actually brownies type cake. With that very very thick chocolate layer, it's easy to "float" the cream cheese mixture on top. I was supposed to give it some marble effect, like you see, but not overdo it... the cross-section pictures I took didn't really show that effect. But the top of the cake did show the that. Lastly, sprinkle the cake with blueberries - should put more blueberries the next time.

The making

The un-trimmed side

I thought about the decoration of the cake... at first I was planning to have dark chocolate cream topping but MasterChef said that would be too much since the cake was very rich (she'd tried this cake before but I haven't). Then I thought perhaps whipping cream? It was agreed, but at the end due to laziness (only a very small fraction) and also it would be a waste to cover the effect of the top layer, I've decided to go minimalist style.

Had this really delicious and cute looking Hippo chocolate bars from London, so I'd just simply lie on on the cake, put on some piped leaf icing (Don't ask, I don't know why hippo and leaves...) and voila... the effect was like hippo swimming across a cheesy blueberry swamp with a Happy Birthday sign tailing it.

Double Chocolate Brownies - Experimenting with internet recipe

I was browsing through some recipes from the internet and had decided to make some with the internet recipe instead of the one I got from my books. The last time I made brownies was a failure even though it was using ready mix pack. I bet Shen must have found it hard to belive since she had made numerous packs and were a hit among her family and office mates.

So I had put baking brownies aside. But, brownies are easy to make and I want to own a good brownies recipe. (easy to make because no need to use electric mixer :D). Hence some more experiment, also thinking some of my food tasters will help me out with both tasting, obviously, and also getting rid of the item in question.

I don't know what to say about the brownies... the ones at the sides were not so nice, too "cake-ky" but the ones in the centre sort of tasted better in terms of texture. I had changed the chocolate chips to dark chocolate chunks because my chocolate chips were expired. Added both pecan and almond, and I did increase the amount of the nuts.

Here is the original recipe.

English Scones

My ex-ex-boss just had his angioplasty, again. I had been thinking of him a lot lately. Told him that during my telephone conversation with him last Friday and he said no wonder he felt warmth.

He is my number one scones supporter. He said (out of being very kind I'm sure, and now suffer the consequences because I kept sending him scones from time to time.) that they are one of the best he had. The other day when he called, he told me his little "in search for scones" episode. He got this sudden crave for scones but were not able to get any after going to Dome Cafe, Starbucks and a few cafes. Some were some selling, others sold out.

So finally I decided to make him some. Assembled a scone gift pack together with some mini jam from Whittard, UK

Scones are very easy to make, electric mixer not required and baking time is only 15 minutes. Made some plain ones and some with raisins. They are best eaten warm with butter and jam. I tried it with honey and I liked that. S-Buddy likes it with peanut butter jam - weird taste but at least he had approved the scones recipe.

Sent off the scones to eeBoss' house before going to SPK for the combat launch. Gave some to Farid, Little Bro and Hobbes.

Nearly didn't turn up...

Had supper last night and had supper just now. VERY bad. I wonder whether my one combat class today is able to contra the fat produced...

Planned to bring MasterChef and TLA to the new launch at Axis today. (yesterday since this is already after midnight). Farid has gotten them the free passes to the classes since she was at Axis on Thursday night. TLA and I was all ready for the body jam, TLA being the body jam addict in making was looking forward to that. (though she really hesitated whether to go gym at all since she needed to study for her exam on Monday, and her PMR in 3 weeks' time).

MasterChef was at uni today (ya, still working 5 and half day week), planned to just sign in and head home. However, she had a last minute meeting and didn't make it back on time for us to leave house for the gym, for body jam. Meanwhile, I told TLA that we can always go for the later class, body combat. But after some "reasoning" with me, apparently she didn't want to do combat. Fine. I thought, lets all not go anywhere then. I was really cranky by then, but thought better of loosing my temper for such small matter. Anyways, I did, at the end, being "forced" to leave the house for combat. Also, I thought it would be easier for me to explain the no-show of our guests. (Farid, if you are reading this, I'm so sorry for all the trouble and at the end tak jadi. Some more got you distracted from class trying to look out for us, so sorry!)

I arrived quite early since the traffic was smooth. Some of the regular combaters were already gathering around waiting for the class, some were in the class as jammers then. Particularly spotted Farid, Diha and PiC enjoying themselves immensely in this really hyper track. Then little bro suddenly materialized as well beside me, we chatted for a while and he was then behind the class registration counter.

I had a mixture of hate and love towards this new combat release. As I felt earlier, during the sort of "preview" by Renee some time before this launch, I like especially the so called recovery track with the double back kick. Fast and furious. Everyone got into a really cheery mood when the Girlfriend song were blasted through the sound system, a song I got dedicated through Facebook from Ladynina the other day. Quite a fun track, but the jumping part, I felt, did not do good to my knees.

My memoir of the class is slipping away, I couldn't recall much about how I felt towards the other tracks... Erm... I remember being tightly squeezed and forced to the back and in between members during the evasive side kicks. I gave up half of my side kicks so I don't "injure" Farid who's just beside me, while tried hard also to avoid being "injured" by the girl closely in front of me. One of the tracks were especially difficult to figure the beats out, you either do perfectly if you can catch the rhythm or loose it all if you miss.

The tricep press combo reminded me of Trainer's classes when I first join gym. I remember getting confused when he first demonstrated that tricep combo in one of my first combat classes with him. I really missed Trainer's combat class, too bad he doesn't plan to teach again no matter how we tried to persuade him. Anyways, love the conditioning track but find the cool down track not "dramatic" enough, not much, or was there any, kata to end the combat class "in style".

The instructors launching the class was an explosive pair, loads of humorous episodes and impressive moves demos which sent the class soaring with cheers. Master C was adorned in, I thought, a very "hip" look today with a sleeveless hooded top, very apt with all his groovy hip hop moves (yes we were in combat and not jam, we were also NOT doing balance). Hmmm... I kind of agreed with Master C when he said he can actually dance... well, through that few moves he demonstrated, he did seem very capable in hip hop track at least.

Together with Master C was Crystal, oh, another Master C. I've not seen Crystal for such a long time, the last time I saw her was when she was still GXC at SPK, we had so much fun times there, I was really impressed then with her up-to-date internet timetable. She looked so different now with such long hair, she looked so ladylike and suave but still had the don't-mess-with-me look during combat. Later she told me that she was no longer full time with FF and is only teaching classes freelance. I like her classes but never really able to fit her classes into my gym regimen. I remember doing her pump classes as well when I first joint gym. She being so tough, her classes were really motivating.

Came back after gym and contented myself with some baking. My number one task was my aunty's birthday cake for tomorrow night's surprise do. Baked a Sticky Chocolate Blueberry Cheesecake, posting it tomorrow. After that were to bake some scones for my ex-ex-boss, one of my favorite bosses and my number 1 scones fan, sending the scones to his house before gym tomorrow. Then was to bake some brownies, I have been wanting to try out some internet recipes. Choose a Double Chocolate Brownie with Pecan and Almond. Not sure how it taste, haven't even cut it yet, I thought of bringing some to gym IF it taste OK when I try tomorrow. Not sure who will be there and whether enough or not, don't have time to bake more, was already midnight. I've originally planned to have the brownies as a gift to me ex-CEO, but decided not to because brownies can't really give the "extravagant look" that I want for an important gift. Will bake my choc cake next week for this purpose.

... and so that's why we had supper just now, the scones were really at their best when they just left the oven. Scones are best eaten warm so that the butter we apply will melt away, add jam for more flavour, we also tried them with honey just now and it was very enjoyable as well.

I need to loose more calories tomorrow!!!

Picking up cupcakes

Made some marble cupcakes with vanilla (brandy) and chocolate icing last weekend. It was for the office and being mindful of Super Spicy Babe, my #1 cupcake supporter.


My GrMD said the cupcake were very dry (hmmm? my boss said it tasted the same like the previous ones). Other colleagues said the cupcakes were really pretty and so on so on... BUT at the end of the day, after I gather all the feedbacks, my note under colleagues shall be (also) "chocolate related desserts only".


Knowing that SSBabe will normally pass this way (my office area) on Thursdays, I've asked if she mind dropping by to pick up the cupcakes. Glad she didn't mind and she picked up the cupcakes just now before she headed for The Curve. And it was extremely comical when I bumped into SSBabe at gym later - why can't I just pass the cakes to her at gym instead of having her drive all the way? (well, not actually all the way right from Uptown to Curve via Taman Tun?) Anyways, as I was saying, she purposely dropped by my office to pick the cupcakes off me because my original plan was pump at MML after my office weekly ritual (the walk. By the way, we want to change that to yoga, in search of yoga instructor now. Originally my boss was hoping to get Master C to teach us combat, but as I've guessed, supported by my inquiry, he can't teach outside gym) hence won't be able to meet SSBabe up at The Curve. But I changed my plan because...


One
Felt pangs of pain on my shoulder when changing into the walking attire (you know when you had to turn your arms/ hands at some angle to take off your top etc), so I wanted to give my shoulder another day off. Devastated to miss pump of course!


Two
My girl friend texted to say she can't meet up this weekend (wanted to celebrate her birthday) so asked if supper tomorrow (Friday) night is OK. I said yes to that plan and hence need to move some of my Friday activities to today - shopping for baking ingredients (I need to bake my auntie's birthday cake)


Three
Last minute plan to join launch on Saturday (because only the day before FI asked if I'm going to the launching. After knowing that he's not launching anything - he said they told him he's not required - I thought of not going, but at the end got coaxed by FI. So since Saturday gyming, today can declare off day from gym (Hey, I went for a taxing walk right)


Four
Got persuaded by Farid that joining the combat launch at SPK on Sunday is an extremely good idea! So, even more reason to declare today off day from gym then.


So... there I was at The Curve after my walk, just to shower :p before my shopping. And I bumped into SSBabe (So I heard someone calling my name at the background while ascending the steps).


So I gestured to her by pointing a finger with a pair of raised eye brows.


She then gestured bicep lift + cut throat + superman flying pose + wave wave


I then did wriggling and descending fingers above my head + side ways circular motion with index finger + walking with two fingers + wave wave.



The deciphered version:


Me pointing a finger with a pair of raised eye brows (Eh? You are here one?)

SSBabe gestured bicep lift (pump class) + cut throat (finished already) + superman flying pose (leaving and going back already) + wave wave (Bye-bye)

Me wriggling and descending fingers above my head (going to take shower)+ side ways circular motion with index finger (after that) + walking with two fingers (going jalan-jalan i.e. shopping) + wave wave (bye-bye).


So these were what SSBabe came all the way for instead of me conveniently passing to her at gym :p



As though I possess psychic power to have the foresight of the need to give out a celebratory gift on some one's promotion.

Temptation

I'm quite tempted to try out an RPM class, the so called "buddy ride" as I quote MB. Now that SpicyBabe had expressed her interest to ride along... where and when?