Death By Chocolate Cake

I was talking to MC just now about giving a name to my chocolate cake. Besides TTB's chocolate cake, perhaps we can call it Death By Chocolate Cake.

Any other suggestions for the name of this cake? ^_^

This is a rich moist chocolate cake with milk chocolate icing. Based on the feedback, this chocolate cake has been a success every time it makes appearance on celebrations or given as presents.

The cake is very moist and though sandwiched and glazed with milk chocolate icing, it's not too sweet because of the reduced sugar cake.

I am still not quite happy with this chocolate cake decoration. I mean, chocolate coated strawberries are great I think, but need something which is more "convenient" - I was so sleepy the other night and couldn't even afford to wait for the chocolate on the strawberries to be properly coated and dripped dry, that's why the pool of chocolate around the strawberries. Some of the strawberries actually fell off the cake the next morning because it was too "slippery". Plus, the strawberries were a bit wet too. Perhaps the mini chocolates are still one of the best options.

2am

So tired, not enough sleep because I was decorating cakes till 2am last night (or it should be called this morning?) - did up a chocolate moist cake with chocolate coated strawberries. And 3 boxes of cupcakes (36s, 16s and 8s). Will post picture tomorrow.

Really hoping to be able to make it to combat at TC tonight since I've not been to gym since Monday. So today double class (I've got yoga in the office this evening).

Will I see any familiar faces over there tonight, say IF I make it to class lah.

I need to loose 3kgs

... at least.

The traffic was just crazy today! Took me almost 2 blardi hours to get home. Humphhhh!!!

One thing I am glad was I already filled up my petrol tank and only had to wait for one car at the gas station just now. But the journey back was TOO crazy, felt like screaming in the car! I text-ed Carebear when I left the office, that's when she was travelling from Kuching to Miri I think. AND I was still NOT home yet when she reached Miri!! Took me longer time to get from Taman Tun to Cheras. Can't believe it!!

Ok... calm down.

MC is back today! Yay, but she has gone to bed, too sleepy I guess. We planned to go hang out tonight, but we were surrounded by cars when we went out, luckily we managed to find a way to "escape" to come home. Everyone was out to the petrol station causing massive traffic jam all around.

I should have gone to the gym and loose those weights I desperately need to loose. I think since I have been eating as usual, I need more workout to burn the calories.

I give myself 2 weeks to loose that 3kgs!!!

that inspired me...

It was a rare opportunity that we went on a Europe trip last year without parents. We were MC, BIL, me and most of all, their first time away so far without parents, my cousin sister (occasionally nicked name as TLA in this blog) and brother. There was a lot of walking on our free and easy tour. It was like an adventure to the kids! Although tired, we always found ourselves enjoying immensely when we sank into comfortable environment at our pit-stop eatery places.

I was particularly in love with this place called The Caffettiera and my diary reads...

Our next mission was to locate a highly recommended tea room and the best galaterie in Rome... This was what the city guidebook said about the places: La Caffettiera Politician from the nearby parliament buildings lounge in the sumptuous tearoom of this temple to Neapolitan goodies, while lesser mortals bolt coffees at the bar. The rum baba reigns supreme, but ricotta lovers rave over the crunchy sfogliatella and rich pastiera.

We found the Caffettiera after walking passed a castle and the Pantheon. According to the guidebook, the Pantheon was built by Hadrian in AD 119-128 as a temple to the most important deities; the inscription on the pediment records a Pantheon build 100 years before by General Marcus Agrippa. The bronze doors are the original Roman ones. Inside, the Pantheon's glory lies in its dimensions. The diameter of the hemispherical dome is exactly equal to the height of the building. At the centre of the dome is the oculus, a circular hole 9m in diameter, a symbolic link between the temple and the heavens.

We were so tired by the time we reach the Caffetteira... we found a sofa seating area and the tea room was a fantastic place to hang out and unwind (not that we were done for the day yet). Their hot chocolate was superb, I had one with hot chilly pepper (ya... very special and spicy) and it's delicious! Alan's coffee was a but strong, but it looks really good! The cakes were great, we didn't get to try the recommended sfogliatella but the ones we ordered were just great. We spent more than one hour here and the best thing was no one bothered us and we didn't feel pressured at all to leave by the waiters. We spent lesser than at the earlier cafe we went and got so much more in return. Really highly recommended!

And so I thought, isn't TeaRoom a wonderful idea? Make that my dream...

Working on the dream

A quick post before I "start work"...

Completed my BC + BP combo last night. Feels great to have worked-out more than usual but I do have this pain on my left shoulder again, pain and not muscle pain.

After not joining combat for a long long time, especially Master C's, the class felt more interesting for me. Perhaps I should join this class only occasionally. As for pump, tough as usual. I had actually reduced weights for squat and chest track.

For the squat track, two reasons to reduce weight for me - instructor warned that the track IS tough; and instructor was using 11kgs, do I want to do the same? Of course I reduce to 10kgs lah. Lucky I made the right decision. Phew...

As for chest track, since I've worked my upper body in combat, I expect me to have less strength. And Carebear said we will be working from bottom up - and Hobbes Push Push track last Saturday sprang into my head - so reduced from my usual 6kgs to 5kgs only. (So, I'm pretty sure my shoulder pain is not because of pump).

Before joining class, I'd tried one of my own banana muffin (which cannot be called so, should call them choc chips muffins) and it was rather tasteless. So, the banana muffin recipe was not good (see comments under the banana chocolate chips muffin post) and I feel that I'm better when baking chocolate and cheese items. So perhaps I should stop baking banana muffins haha...

Anyways... I decided before class that I don't need to have dinner since I was feeling quite stuffed after eating the muffin. BUT, after pump, I was really hungry and in dire need of replenishing energy (to drive home). Ended up getting a mozzarella and vege toostie from O'Brien's before leaving TC.

Okay, I've decided to seriously look into my TeaRoom dream. So, first thing first, the location - ideally a neighbourhood type of environment, but with nearby offices. Not in the mall, at shoplots area but not Mont Kiara or Bangsar type of overly busy shoplots. Near to and convenient for all my friends so that they can drop-by all the time for a good gossip sessions (and of course to contribute to my "salary").

Any idea? Do share...

I wish...

I wish I can manage to do a back to back BC + BP tonight - I'm off from gym tomorrow so that I can bake a birthday cake for end of this week.

I wish I can hug all my friends now for their support - I know everyone wishes for great things to happen for me (soon), I'm crossing my fingers too.

I wish I can just believe that dreams are signs and will come true (exclude nightmares please!) - a gal friend just sms-ed me telling me she dreamt of attending my wedding with him (haha) but that is just a dream.

Banana Chocolate Chips Muffin

I'm sure this time they can be called muffins...

So happened mum bought some bananas a few days ago. And I've bought these new muffin paper cups which look too cute to be left aside in the cupboard. Finally, I do want to confirm a banana muffin recipe so I can "move on". (Carebear, the paper cups are good enough without the muffin trays actually - you can see from the picture that they were not supported by the tray)

I didn't try any after I baked them, too full. Will try one for breakfast tomorrow morning perhaps. The fact that the muffins had risen very well, I already liked this recipe. I leave it to the tasters to come back with the feedback.

The recipe made 12 which is just the good portion for tea-time bake. Mum bought Pisang Rastali which was different from those I normally got at the supermarket. I would expect them to give better aroma actually. And no banana essence added but added chocolate chips just to be "safe" - so that they could some how also please the chocoholic.

Thought the cupcakes were rather dull, so glazed them with honey to add some shine. However, I wouldn't expect the honey to give much aroma since it's just the Giant brand honey. Nonetheless, I think I could still get the effect - which I hope will last.