Fruit Flan Cake

Its the end of August 08, and Ramadhan is approaching. To all Muslim friends.... "Selamat Berpuasa!!"

So for this week we covered on Fruit Flan. The base for this cake is made of Sweet pastry and the cake is sliced into 2 and spread with custard and finished with fruit decoration. The technique of arrrange and slicing mango should be thin andproportion, looks easy but need lots of practise....!!

Another Teacher's Day.... my friends said... we did this to kill the time. So I guess what a better way to dedicated it on Teacher's Day.

Mango Mousse Cake

Yet another marathon week for me, the week ended on a happy note with Mango Mouse Cake. Desserts anyone?

Made of sponge based mixture, mousse cream based custard flavoured mango puree and decorated by finger biscuits as collar for the mousse. As topping, I used grapes and strawberry and designed chocolate decor effects. Another mouth watering dessert for a hot day!!

Lapis Strawberry Ice Cream Cake

Lapis Strawberry Ice Cream is made of both Strawberry and Vanilla Ice cream powder and real ice cream. Yes! you can bake ice cream.... The cake is done by grilling each layer by 2 layered of Vanilla followed by 2 Strawberry flavour and repeating the process until the last batter showing the layering effects.

One of the most 'delicate cake making' has to the family of Lapis Cake (traditional Asian Layered cake). The cake appearance and taste should be moist, technique of layering consistent, grilling each layer and finally the taste of fusion in it. When Rubiah had requested for this class-Lapis Strawberry Ice cream cake, I was thinking to myself... wow not an easy cake. So I had to carefully planned that it's fully hands-on class so that I can evaluate it immediately and give the fullest technique of baking it.

Three student joined me this week, Rubiah, Siti and Ain. Girls.... there more rooms for improvement, always practise and keep up the good work!!

Opera Cake Workshop

Two new students this week, Beth and Han together with Ain, Nadiana (now I get your rite!) and Kak Siti joined my Opera Cake workshop last Saturday. We started at 9am and ended at 3pm. Beth had requested for this class and others quickly snapped up the seats in a quest to know more about Opera Cake making. I guess slicing the cake would be the challenging part for most students but then again practise makes perfect. Thanks to all students for participating and making it a memorable day for me as a trainer.

The finish product by 2 students. Europeans call it L' Opera cake but the common Opera cake is made by 3 layer of Joconde (Almond Sponge Cake) sandwiched with Italian Buttercream and
coffee Syrup Ganache Topping and the word Opera written on it. Thanks to Chef Larry its always been my personal favourite too!!

Cake Decorating Class

Suhaila, a secondary school teacher from Hougang is my guest student this week. Hmmm.... teacher mets instructor.... oops no dont worry no conflicts. She choose the package cake decor class Cupcakes & Novelty cake. A soft spoken young lady, Suhaila is very keen to explore the world of cake decorating. I am glad that she chooses my class as part of the new embarkment into baking.
Suhaila reminds me of my early days in baking..... well she made the right move to start early.

Pastel colours cute cuppies.... by Suhaila

Well Done!!

Practical Exams 1

I waited in anticipation this week for the practical exam day to come. Well, baking is a joy for me but when comes to exams and completing it in 4 hours, well it can be nerve wracking too!
The pool of cakes waiting to be evaluated....

We were asked to do roses out of marzipan and decorate a Valentines Day cake with the inscription and graded by the volume and presentation.

The other cake was Sacher Torte.

Baking Supplies Shopping Tour In Surabaya

When I first read about the famous 'Toko 8' in Surabaya, Indonesia.... I have always wondered how unique is this shop and I told myself that I will make a trip there someday. Seeing is believing, so finally, it came true on 9 Aug 08. Leaving my adorable kids and darling husband behind, I took an "adventure" tour to Surabaya which I choose to call it "Tour de Loyang", 'loyang' means mould in Malay/Indonesia.

The flight to Surabaya took 1hr 50mins....My kids sending me to the airport..... well who would ever guess how many moulds I brought back to Singapore....

I was welcome by the friendly tour guide named Abu Bakar from BMW Tours.... a very knowledgable guide....wow felt like a rich lady.... I was driven around in a MPV car by Benny and they waited for me each time I shop. After I finished, they would quickly rush to grab the shopping items. Well I guess you worked so hard in life..... so this is the time to enjoy. This is one of the famous monument in Surabaya city.... the tour guide told me that 'Sura' means shark and 'baya' mean crocodile.

Ever seen a square chiffon mould?I felt drown in flood of moulds.... lucky me the shop assistant followed around to push the trolley and helped me choosing the moulds.

Picture with Bu Eni and her staff.

This is Bu Eni, Pak Boy's wife the shop owner. She is not only generous with her smile, ensuring that I get the first class service from her staff. I spent 1/2 hr discussing. with Pak Boy... perhaps a win-win business relations in the near future.

Standing in front of Ampel.... tombs of Wali Songo.

Well overall its a great tour..... in my opinion if you want to do a "crazy shopping spree" like I did, deadly shopping... best if you bring a family member, especially husbands.... who will give you 100% assistance. On that note.... husband is always the best companions after all.

Hungry anyone?

Blueberry Cheesecake Workshop

During my short stay in Sdyney in 2005, Yohanna (my Aussie mum) introduced me with her homemade Cheesecake which I immediately fell in love with and have been trying all sort of cheesecake eversince. This particular blueberry is my all time favourite, well in fact there are many style of presenting it but I guess I prefer the simple thin layer of cheese and top with blueberry. Well I know, Yo always visit my blog.... here is for you.

Well so much for the side track.... this week I am pleased that 2 students - Siti & Rubiah has signed up to join the workshop on Blueberry cheesecake. We started at 7.3opm and although we were fighting with time, I had managed to demonstrate the whole process and shared some tips with the gals. While waiting for the cheesecake to bake.... we had some "mamak rojak" to company us as snack.... had some nice chats with the friendly ladies...... and guess what? Baking brings friendship afterall. So girls.... get going with the Blueberry Cheesecake!!
All the smiles..... packed to home sweet home.

Here the extract comments from Rubiah
"Good Morning Izah,
Thanks for conducting Blueberry Cheese Cake class yesterday. I’ve enjoyed the class as well as gain new knowledge and looking forward to bake the cake myself! "

Birthday Cake for Coporate's Employee

It was supposed to be a break for me this week, cos of month end closing. However a corporate company asked me to bake a 3kg cake for their 3 staff's birthday. I wasnt really sure of the theme they wanted, so had to come with an idea. I decided that buttercream would be appropriate of the hot weather..... cos it wont melt sp easily and pasted an edible image of their corporate logo. Thanks to my "sa...yang" who although busy helping me with the kids.... help me with the decorating as well.

Bavarian Cream Cake

Bavarian Cream Cake..... It's almost like mousse cake. For this cake, sevaral preparation need to be ready:- stencil, spongecake, the custard and decor. The interesting part I guess would be how we produce the stencil a this layer of sponge cake and arrange at the side of ring mould.
It was a solid roller coaster ride to finish 2 cakes in 4 hrs.....
Two types of bavaran cake plain and fruit....

Pool of ready to bring home bavarian cake.