The Pool Party

Was invited to SC and Bernsy's second farewell party last night. This time, MC and BIL were able to come along. That actually allowed me to indulge myself in a few more drinks because BIL can drive us home after the party. Hehe... And guess what? We had an open bar last night, complete with a professional bartender! The drinks were all so delicious.

We (I) were rather hungry when we arrived. Since Bernsy and a few were already eating, we started to help ourselves with food too. And lucky enough, other food, I mean guests, arrived at that same time too. So we got KFC, Burger King and some delicious food from Carebear - a mixed green salad with cheese and balsamic vinaigrette dressing and pasta.

I also got to see how this very famous (heard about it a long time ago) Twister game is played. It's fun looking at them play but I wasn't sure if I am "skillful" (and slim) enough to twine and interweave my-(rather big)-self between others. There might be casualties if I try to go above someone to reach my designated colour spot, with the designated limb. Nevertheless, it was really fun watching, although only one game was played. Maybe no one else dare to join the game because someone will be thrown into the pool. Haha...

It was a fun party and we were all well fed, with both food and drinks. It must have been me not drinking for a long time, I had headache the whole day today, until I got myself a Starbucks Latte. Perhaps it's just caffeine withdrawal, it can't be a hangover, I only had 4 drinks.

MC, BIL and I were at Mid Valley after we (MC and me only) had diligently done our workout at LM - body combat which we had felt extremely satisfied with the amount of sweat, and of course the calories (we assumed) we had burnt.

We were at the shopping mall because I was hoping to get a comfortable walking shoe which is also versatile and presentable enough to go with my casual jeans outfit and dresses. Although I was also one of those who complain about the overpriced shoes at Crocs, I couldn't help but to agree that they do have really comfortable shoes. However, the colour might be a bit too fashionable - shall I get a pair of purple Crocs?

We decided to think about it before we purchase, the shoes are RM139 and above, the ones we might potentially buy is priced at RM169. Not in my comfort zone considering it's casual wear.

However, I did find myself a little something, RM29.90 which is not bad at all.

This chocolate mousse gateau looks really interesting. :)

Bread Pudding for Pool Party

After the last farewell party at SC and Bernsy's, I thought perhaps I'll make the chocolate cake or chocolate cupcakes for the second farewell party - which we just had last night! But due to limited time (had to prepare cake for my last cake decoration class) I had to choose a less time consuming option. My all time favorite (other than the brownies) would be the bread pudding which doesn't take too much time to prepare. The only challenge normally will be getting the croissants to make the pudding. Croissants are normally popular item and will be sold off in the bakery very soon, so must get to bakery early in order to grab some.

I was also up to trying out my new "toy". Actually it's not that new, MC bought this for me when she came back. In fact, I've used the ramekins that came with it and I've only not used the torch before.

Wanted to use it to caramelize the brown sugar on top of the pudding.

Okay lah, not too bad, but I must sieve the brown sugar the next time to get a more even colour on the surface. Actually, I think it's actually better still, using the oven.

Finally the vanilla sauce, with a little bit of brandy.

"Graduation Cake"

Yay! Finally completed my cake decoration class. It has been over 4 Saturdays which means very busy weekends the whole September. Busy not just because I had to go attend the classes, but also due to the preparations and practice required before the classes. i.e. baking cupcakes/ cakes so that we can use them in the class for decorations.

I was rather busy last week. Originally planned to bake the cake for yesterday's class on Thursday, but there was a brownies order. Although last minute, but due to special circumstances, I had to take that order. Quite lucky to have cake orders last week and this week because my pay cheque is going to take some time to clear. Sigh...

So first thing first, the cake. Baked a butter cake and this is one of the "cool tools" for icing the cake without have the cake crumbs "contaminating" the cake. Trust me, icing the cake can be very time consuming and extremely frustrating.

So, the "cake icer". Which is a giant nozzle so you can pipe on the icing instead of spreading the icing with the spatula. It minimizes the chances of us lifting up the cake crumbs when spreading with the spatula.

The cake icer is to be used together with a piping bag.

Just pipe the icing onto the cake. No sweat. (pictures a bit blur due to "multi-tasking") After that, even out the icing with a spatula.

Cake looks perfect enough? (if you don't look at it really up close). To get a really even surface, run a hot spatula over the icing.

Back to the cake deco class... We were suppose to make a cake with roses decoration as our graduation cake. The roses were to be made before the class and to be assembled onto the cake in the class. The cake needs to be covered before the class also. So due to cake orders, I only baked my cake on Friday night, last minute! The roses were badly made on Friday night, most of them lopsided.

Luckily those I made on Saturday morning were ok. You can straight away recognize these as roses can't you?

I cannot show you "the making" of the roses because I had to hold the "flower nail" (the far right needle looking thing) with my left hand while piping the roses with my right. And I need 2 different nozzles to shape the roses - that's why I have no free hand to hold the camera.

The roses were transferred onto the cake with the "flower lifter", ok, no pictures, next time. It's something that looks like a pair of scissors. After transferring the roses, leaves were added - piped with the leave nozzles.

Shen, if you are reading this. Remember we used to get "split ends" when using the other leave nozzle (not the duck beak looking one, the other one)? Apparently we are suppose to open up the nozzles so we can achieve a sharp end.

Here are the other cakes by my classmates.


We also did the "sweet peas" in class and I actually wanted to give the borders a finishing touch by having them on it. But I didn't have time. So I've added these after I've came home.

My idea of the cake is like this. MC said it looks like a wedding cake. Yeah, I actually agree with her. Roses decoration are rather old fashion, I mean classic.

Project Clown

There was a birthday cake order. The request was chocolate moist cake and the design requested originally was 2 stick man, one fat and the other thin. But erm... The Baker is not good in free hand drawing. So at the end settled with random design that look fun.

However, so happened I just got to learn how clowns are created, I've asked if my "customer" would like having clowns on the cake, one thin, one fat perhaps. Haha...

So here are the clowns!

I've also put one of my new tools in use - the cake leveler. It makes spliting cakes evenly a very easy job and we are talking about extremely even, even.

The cake leveler:

Adjust height of the layer (of the cake you want to cut) by changing the location of the catch:

Just "saw" the cake with the leveler, supported by the working surface:

Perfectly even cake:

A piece of cake!

Prayers

I decided to give up the two back-to-back classes today to go visit Tony at the hospital. But I only managed to leave work at 8.30pm. I would have gone to visit him then continue with work if it hadn't involve two other colleagues.

I will visit him tomorrow. Lunch time.

Please... get well soon...

I need a break?

I'm having a headache. Literally. Maybe because of the weather or maybe because I'm too busy.

I don't know why I constantly feel like I'm too busy lately. I once thought that busy is good, but tonight I feel like I can do with a break. A long break not just from work, but from baking, from gym and from being crazy towards anyone.

I am definitely under stress (maybe PMS) otherwise I wouldn't have felt negative. Instead of having hope and working on things I want, I feel like putting everything aside and just drift along.

Mood forecast told me that there is a storm building up, the next few days are going to be gloomy and impatient. There might even be tornado. Definitely cold and unapproachable.

Whoops. Sorry, was suppose to load some pictures of my new decoration tool and the birthday cake order. But I think I better off going to bed early.

The Pro Set

I bought this today! RM590 with a 10% discount. It's a complete cake decorating set with something called the tool caddy. It's so very cool!

There are 101 items in this set (so to speak, one nozzle is considered one item, there are 18 nozzles inside). Will show you the contents during the next few days. As of now, the tool box is still inside my car, keeping it away from my mum's sight. Hehe...

Today was my third class at ICCA for cake decoration. Next week will be the last class when we had to complete our "graduation cake". I wonder who can help me "settle" (eat) the cake after that. Anyways, these were what we did in today's class:

Roses - need to perfect this. The roses are going onto the "graduation cake"

Bear - erm... must practise.

The clowns - I was so thrilled to find out that, it's actually quite easy! This is going onto the chocolate cake (there is an order for next week).

Did some "faces" too, but won't show you close up. They are quite terrible. We also did some drop flowers, nothing so special.