Bonding Time

What do mother and daughter do together for bonding time?

They come up with fondant doll..

At least, it's a step forward from playdough.

Fun!!!

Cakes Round-up - A Confession

I love baking, and the maids who have worked for me are the living testimony of my hobby. The previous one who worked for me put on 10 kg within 6 months. The current one is still struggling with her weight gain, one look and a person can tell that I feed her well.

Almost every week, I will find a new project challenge, or something just to satisfy my craving for sweet things. I am more than aware of the effect of glycation on skin, being a vain person that I am. And also the high risk of developing diabetes. But, I just can't help it, I need something to work on almost at the weekly basis. Only to regret it afterwards.

Sin is an act of regrettable fault or offense.

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. The round up of my sins in chronological order:

German Cheesecake

From 50 Resep Istimewa a la Nila Chandra cookbook. Oma Nila Chandra is a dear friend of my grandmother, they were neighbors for years. Her grandchildren were my childhood friends. My mother and aunties were trained under her cooking class. She was the baking queen in her time. 

This cake was quite surprisingly, a clever rendition of the real German Cheesecake. Using cream cheese, instead of the curd. It was sponge cakes with layer of creamy cheesecake, with bits of raisins. Big thumbs up from everyone in the family, including my daughter.

The recipe, however, was very inaccurate. A lot of errors found in the recipe that I found through trial and error made me wonder if the recipe has been tested prior to publishing. But then again, coming from old school, I wonder if they are really sincere about sharing the recipe to outside world.

Carrot Cake

One of my favorite cakes. Something that I never get tired of baking over and over again. This version is taken from All-recipes.  I am still searching for my perfect carrot cakes.

Anyone has recipe to share?

Avocado Tiramisu

I baked this cake for our anniversary. I found out that the challenge for this cake is to find the perfect avocado. I imported the avocado all the way from Jakarta, only to throw more than 2 kg of them into the bin as they were unripe and bitter.

I have not had much luck with my Tiramisu attempt. And this one was no different. 

It was average, but not special. But then again, I need to get the perfect avocado before I can come up with the perfect Avocado Tiramisu. I did not use enough avocado in this cake.

Recipe adapted from different sources, inspired by Ny Liem's Favorite Modern Cake's Avocado Tiramisu.

Outrageous Chocolate Cookies

For years, I thought I was the odd one out, because I loooove chewy and soft cookies. But all the cookies that I found were all crispy. That's why I fell madly in love with Mrs. Field cookies. Chewy, soft in the middle, with the right amount of chocolate chunks.

It was only years later, I find out that I am perfectly normal, that there are people in the world who love soft and chewy cookies as much as I do.

Strangely enough, other than one failed attempt of coming up with the chewy cookies, I did not bother to come up with the cookies. Until I saw this one.

This one is from Martha Stewart. And I really love it. Very intense chocolate taste, mixed with chunks of bittersweet chocolate in a chewy fudgy cookies. Recipe can be found here.

Chocolate Cheesecake

This no-bake version, is very simple to do. Y said that he gave it 7.5/10 rating, which, according to him was very high rating, as he had very high standard on my cakes.

Tini, my domestic helper, said...nice..nice! 

I say, this is definitely in my baking list. Something that I will redo again, given the low level of difficulty. 

Recipe from Yasaboga.

I will go on Soutbeach Diet for my penance! No cakes or sweet things for the next 3 months.

The Seventh Year

"I come from the Fire Princess, and she wants to marry the Water King's son, and they're afraid of touching each other, lest he should dry up, or she be put out. So, please, they want to know what to do"

"Oh, the stupidity of people! And all this time, they are afraid of doing the very thing they ought to do. Of course it's impossible for them to marry till he is dried up and she is put out. What puts out fire but water? What dries up water but fire?"

Through The Fire

Mary Morgan

For 7 years they have been married. All in all, they have been together for more than 10 years. They have spent one third of their lives with each other. Oh, my!

So, the Fire Princess and the Water Prince, the two opposites attract, they have been together since the day they first met.

Although sometimes, the fire refuses to be put out and the water does not want to be dried up! But, they are trying their best to find that equilibrium.

He's still not extravagant with words of endearment, just like she's still nagging him non stop about being more romantic in words and action.

He thinks that she's as childish as their 5-year old boy. And she thinks that he acts like he is the younger one in the relationship (think kimi wa petto).

But they still enjoy each other's company, talking to each other about everything and nothing, whenever they can find the time.

Or sneak in a bit of romance here and there, something that reminds them about their love existence.

And with two little ones between them, their love strengthen as time goes by.

(And what is love but to compromise?)

Or so they think, until their 8th anniversary!