The Long Silence (sort of...)

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted here.

I realize it's been nearly three weeks since I last managed to post.

As the year has wound down, I find that the demands placed on my time and energy only increase. It's hard to believe that the office workload for 2010 is nearly, I repeat-nearly, complete: Last meeting for this year ended today, and I only have one more week next week .... and then.... going off for long holiday. Holiday????..No, I don't think so. I still have got orders to fulfill, baking classes to give, not forgetting preparation for the 'back-t0-school' thingy..

It's been a wild ride for this year. I cannot but be grateful that I have woken up each morning excited and I've gone to bed each night very tired.

If there's any regret that I have, it's that I've not gotten to be in Germany for my baby brother's Viva....I simply couldn't get go to Germany due to work load... I know he will understand...

...to my twin baby brother, Safial Aqbar @ AA, or better known as 'Sam' back in Germany... CONGRATULATIONS.. for being conferred the title 'Dr' .

Well Done baby brother..!

Oh... Tidak...!

....Kat Abu Dhabi tak boleh nak access FB.... !

Argggghhhhhhh...!

Away on Business Trip...

...Will be back...

I could make cuppies in 6 hours... right?

I received this frantic call from my sis-in-law in wee hours yesterday morning (...there goes my beauty sleep...!).

She suddenly realised that of all things, she had forgotten to order cupcakes for her younger sister's graduation celebration which takes place in the afternoon. And, yes.... she rang and hoping that I can fulfill this 'Bidan Terjun' thingy for her (*LoL*). She said she will swing by my house at 3:00pm, to pick up the cuppies, on her way to UiTM.

I could make cuppies in 6 hours, right? What was I thinking?

Luckily, my kitchen has the makings for cupcakes at all times. I decided on a simple vanilla cuppies with 'a frosting'... at that time of baking-yet to be determined.

Cupcakes in the oven... now what type of frosting should I make to go with that vanilla cuppies? A simple Vanila Buttercream? Vanila Bean? Salted Caramel? Oh the possibilities! I have been known to stay up all hours of the night to perfect my buttercream recipe... and I have a lot of wonderful frostings in my repertoire, many of which include whipped egg whites, caramelised sugar, etc... (these take a lot of time to prepare... *sigh*)

But no, not today. Since all those frosting takes time to prepare...so, I opted for the easiest frosting ever - simple buttercream.

...simple buttercream toppings - no time to do that fondant 'mortar board and scroll' thingy...

Cream 1 stick of butter. Add powdered sugar until it reaches the desired consistency (about 2-3 cups). Add a spash of milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. TA-DA... you have buttercream frosting. I had some heavy cream, left over from making white pasta sauce, so I whipped that and folded it into the butercream (why not at this point?). . Somehow, against all odds, the frostings turned out to be delicious.

My sis-in-law came, she was excited, she loved them. I also knew that my sis-in-law will be coming with her three wonderfuld kids, so I made few extras for them. Those little darlings.... :)

He Sis, next time no last minute request OK - baking is not meant to be done on a whim..! ...yes....muuaah.... I Love You Too Sis...!

Red & White Wedding Hantaran Cupcakes...

Tired of the conventional and boring looking cakes for your wedding?

Why not have wedding cupcakes for 'Hantaran' instead...!

They're small, cute, adorable, gorgeous, beautiful, bite-size and available in an array of delicious flavours and they are versatile and mess-free, no need to slice each cake for your guests, all you have to do is hand them out and voila, your guests can have their cake and eat it too!
Here is a wedding 'Hantaran' cupcakes I made recently, ordered by my customer, for her friend's wedding

I iced the cupcakes with buttercream and then cover it with fondant for that smoother finished. Then I decorated each cupcake with Red and White gumpaste rose - as the wedding theme is "Red & White".

...chocolate moist cupcakes decorated with intricately designed handmade sugar flowers and butterflies...

Thanks Khainani for the order...

and

... to the newlywed couple (sori tak sempat tanya nama..!)

SELAMAT PENGANTIN BARU

Kenny Rogers Cornmeal Muffins

...he knows when to hold them ...

(I mean the Ladies...! *LoL*)...

...and he knows when to fold them...

He also knows how to make awesome cornmeal muffins that come with the meals served at his chain of fire-roasted chicken restaurants.

When Kenny Rogers isn't singing 'Lady', I am sure he is out promoting his fast-growing chicken chain - and its working out pretty good.

Now, with the help of his recipe, I made some sweet cornmeal muffins for my household for snack after dinner last night..., that taste just like Kenny's... (yeah....! tumbs-up from the Man...! )

....some call it Cornmeal..... some call it Maize Meal...

whatever it is....they are both the same..."JAGUNG"..

... close-up..

... for my household, they requested 'organic'..

...too much work...??

...not really....

...15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to bake can't be that bad....

...and you don't really have to watch it after it goes into the oven.......just set the time and take them out after 25 minutes....

...straight out of the oven, they're just gorgeous - crusty outside, soft inside.

The following recipe makes 12 large Cornmeal Muffins.

Kenny Roger's "LADY' Cornmeal Muffins

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Butter

2/3 cup Sugar

1/4 cup Honey

1 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour

3/4 cup Yellow Cornmeal (I used organic Corn meal)

1/2 cup Fresh Milk (room temperature)

Shredded Corn from 2 cobs

2 Eggs

1/2 teaspon Salt

1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder

Note: I did not use frozen corn. Instead, I used shredded sweet yellow corn

(easy to find in supermarket).

Preparation:

Pre-heat oven to 350 deg.

Lined muffin trays with muffin cups. Set aside.

Cream together butter, sugar, honey, eggs and salt in a large bowl.

Add flour, cornmeal and baking powder and mix thoroughly.

Add milk while mixing.

Add corn to mixture and fold with spatula until corn is worked in.

Fill each muffins cups with batter 1/2 full.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until muffins begin to turn brown on top.

Done...!
Enjoy...!