Eggless Sponge Cake (The Easiest Cake)

18th April 2014 is YengYeng's 1st birthday. We didn't have a grand celebration as we are going away to Betong for holidays the next day.

As YengYeng is allergic to egg, I decided to bake an eggless sponge cake for her. Searched high and low for the recipe and it was hard to find! In the end, decided to try this recipe out of a few recipes found. It is the easiest cake that I have baked so far. And it turned out just nice..pheeww..

Ingrediant
Sweetened Condensed Milk     200g
Self-raising Flour     140g
Baking Powder    1 tsp
Baking Soda     1/2 tsp
Melted Butter     60ml
Vanilla Essence     1 tsp
Water     75ml

Method

1. Sieve the flour, baking powder and baking soda together.\
2. Mix the flour mixture, condensed milk, melted butter, vanilla essence and water and beat well.
3. Pour the mixture into a greased and dusted 6 inch diametre round tin.
4. Bake in a hot oven at 200 degree C for 10 minutes.
5. Then, reduce the temperature to 150 degree C and bake for a further 10 minutes.
6. The cake is ready when it leaves the sides of the tin and is springy to touch.
7. Leave cool for 1 minute, invert the tin over a rack and cool the cake on a wire rack.

P/S: As it is a birthday cake, I make the chocolate ganache on top of it. And the children love it! ^^

Easy Molten Chocolate Lava (Volcano) Cake

It has been months since my last blog. I was busy moving both house and office and now, still adapting the new environment, the new daily routine and the new working environment. So much to adapt and we had a very "rushing" Chinese New Year this year so, hopefully we can really enjoy the Chinese New Year next year.

As it was a very special Valentine's Day this you (Chinese Valentine's Day and Western Valentine's Day fall on the same day), I decided to make Molten Chocolate Lava Cake for my love ones in spite of my injured hands.

So, here we go..

The Ingrediant: (For 4 person)

20g     plain flour
100g   chocolate (I buy good quality chocolate to have a smoother texture)
100g   butter (unsalted)
2         egg
2         egg yolk
20g     sugar
2tsp    vanilla essence (I skipped this)
a little icing sugar (for decoration)

1.) Melt the chocolate and butter, using double-boiled method.
2.) Beat sugar, egg, egg yolk and vanilla essence using a mixer.
3.) Then, mix 1.) and 2.) together.
4.) Add in the flour, mix a little by little slowly (as we don't want any lumps).
5.) Brush a little butter in the "tall" tin. (you could use tart tin too but a taller tin creates better lava effect).
6.) Pour the mixture into the tin.
7.) Bake at 180 degree in 8 minutes.

Hope you like this recipe! ^^

Non-bake Lemon Oreo Cheesecake

A few years back, I learn to make this from a friend. My family love it so much, especially my hubby. The best thing about this recipe is that you can modify it, putting any ingredient that you like as long as the basic ingredient is used.

Basic Ingredient
250g Cream cheese
200g Whipping cream
40g Icing sugar
1tbsp Gelatin powder

The Base
8-10 pieces Digestive biscuit (use oreo biscuit if you want an orea base)
5tbsp Melted butter

Additional Ingredient
10 pieces Oreo (crush to pieces, big or small)
5tbsp Lemon juice

Method
1.) The Base: Put digestive biscuit in a zip bag and break it. Then, add in the melted better and mix well. Press the mixture in the cake mould to form the base.
2.) Dissolve gelatin powder in 1.5 tbsp boiling water.
3.) Break the oreo into pieces (big or small pieces) for later use.
3.) Whisk whipping cream until light and fluffy. 
4.) Beat cream cheese and sugar until creamy.
5.) Add in gelatin mixture and beat til mix well.
6.) Add in whipped cream (Beat with low speed for 30 seconds)
7.) Take out some of the cheese mixture. Then, add in the crushed oreo and stir well.
8.) Add in the lemon juice into the remaining cheese mixture and stir well. 
9.) Now, you can mould the cheesecake in whatever layer you like.
10.) Chill for at least 4 to 5 hours or preferably overnight.

Hubby's Birthday Celebration 2013

For sure, everyone will headache when it comes to celebration, at the very least once a year. I'm the one who is always headache when it comes to celebration, really had no idea how to make it a special one. A surprise party? No..no..I do not want to trouble anyone. A big feast?? Well, he is at the bolder line of high cholesterol, a big feast is sure not a good idea!

In the end, we had a very simple celebration at home. I make a non-bake lemon oreo cheesecake for hubby as requested. It has been years since my last baking of it. Luckily, it tasted good, at least suit our taste! The kids were so eager to try out the cheesecake, holding the spoon while singing birthday song! YengYeng is overjoyed too, looking on at the lighted candle. Although it is a very simple celebration, we are happy and contented for being able to celebrate it together. Nothing is more precious than spending the special moment together! Hopefully, for the many many years to come!

Chinese New Year 2013

Just like previous year, we had a big feast on the Chinese New Year Eve. And again, we had three tables of these delicious foods. Thanks to our big chefs, my mother-in-law and eldest sister-in-law. You are the best!

After the reunion dinner, we chatted and laughed while having from tea to wine. (Oopss..this is not advisable to mix tea and wine together, a bad example). When it was past midnight, we played fire-crackers as a symbolic of a prosperity year ahead. This year, we had the "Kong Ming" lantern as an add-on. We wrote our wishes on the Kong Ming lantern and lit it to the sky.

We had our vegetarian breakfast at my mother-in-law's house the next morning before heading back to Pontian, Johor; my hometown. After six to eight hours of driving, finally we were home. We spent 4 days in Pontian. We spent most of our time chatting, laughing, eating and drinking for the past few days with my siblings and my parents. My youngest brother and my mum cooked delicious foods for us. We were so happy and I felt blessed to have them and being able to spend a few days with them happily.

We also had the opportunity to watch lion dance and dragon dance at one of the Karaoke Clubs in Pontian. There were 5 lions and 1 long dragon. The girls were overjoyed to watch it as this is their first time watching it at such a close distances.

My father bought us supper one night and I was amused by this food. It is called the nasi pulut apom balik. It is very very delicious. I personally found it very special and unique, and of course very delicious! I want to eat it again the next time I go back.

Time waits for no man. It was time to head back to Ipoh. Mum prepared some Chinese New Year cookies, Mandarin oranges and her homemade walnut cake for us to bring back. Mum also homemade the rice wine for my confinement after delivery. I really felt blessed to have such a lovely mum! I love you, mum!

Chinese New Year Preparation 2013

We decided to decorate our house "red and gold" this Chinese New Year. Still keeping these two golden lanterns from last year as they are still in good condition, moreover they were quite pricey too :P

Other than the lanterns, we hung some lights decoration too. We had small little Chinese lanterns and some pinky flower lights. It looks like a very elegant Victoria style necklace when we switched the lights on. Nice!

This year, we wanted to do something 3D on the gate. I bought the couplet and the two very cute big snakes from pasar pagi, altogether costed RM18 which I think it's a great bargain for me..hehe..Feeling a bit dull, I made a few 3D stars to add some spice to it. At first, I was thinking to hang the stars but hubby suggested to tie them on the gate. We are satisfied with the result, it is beautiful :)

This year, we bought some plants too. We bought some imported red anthuriums and spider lilies. They are lovely, really bright up my day.

Then, I tied some red ribbon on the bamboo tree which we bought last year too. Somehow, I feel that the bamboo trees are malnutrition. It should be lush green, I guess that we need to work more on taking care of it.

Lastly, a picture of my two little princesses, making noisy asking me to take a photo of them. Here, wish all of you Happy Chinese New Year! Cheers!

SyuenSyuen's 5th Birthday

After much consideration, we decided to have a small celebration for our daughter together with all her cousins rather than with her friends. At first, I was thinking to throw a small birthday party at her kindergarten but afraid that it might be troublesome for the teachers and perhaps we will disturb their learning progress. Then, my hubby suggested that perhaps we could have a small party at home with just the 4 of us. In the end, we decided to celebrate it at eldest sister-in-law's house rather than our home. It is merrier and happier if she could celebrate her birthday with all her cousins. And yes, we made the right decision. A special thanks to eldest sister-in-law for preparing all the delicious foods!

This is her birthday cake, Tiramisu Cake from Secret Recipe.

Birthday song time, with both English and Mandarin version :)

Cake Cutting Time!

Everyone is happy!

Gift Opening at home, kinda late at night and both was sweating due to the playtime at sister-in-law's house.

SyuenSyuen is overjoyed to receive the gift from her cousins. And finally our gift for her, which she had been longing for, a Barbie Doll's Bedroom and Bathroom Set!

Chinese New Year Eve 2012

This year is definitely a fabulous year for all of us. Many families gathered at eldest sis-in-law's house for the fabulous reunion dinner. I counted the amount and if I'm not wrong, we had 42 people in the house! Fantastic!!! Love the feeling with adult chatting and laughing away while the children running around and playing around.

We had 10 main courses including the dessert that I personally prepared (luckily, they love it :P) and we had our "yu sheng" on that particular night too. For this reunion dinner, both my mother-in-law and eldest sister-in-law had started making preparation TWO to THREE WEEKS in advance!! I personally felt VERY THANKFUL for their effort and hardship. To me, reunion dinner means more than just reunion dinner, we should felt THANKFUL!

We had 2 plates of yu sheng that night.

This is the first tray of dessert, the longan jelly.

This is the second tray of dessert, with a little colouring added.

The third tray, a 3-D effect tray.

Some adults chatted away while some adults, together with the children played fireworks.

My very daring Li Ning joined in the fun too!

Coincidently, we had 2 birthday girls on that night. We had an ice-cream cake and a blackforest cake.

Taa-daa..the two birthday girls!

Waiting eagerly for the cake!

Enjoying the cake.

Ang pow time!! My two girls were the first lining up for the ang pow...hehehehe....Wishing everyone stay HEALTHY and HAPPY :)

Chinese New Year Preparation 2012

As we are still struggling with our work load even until a day before Chinese New Year Eve, this year we had a very abrupt and simple preparation. At first, I was thinking to bake 1 or 2 types of cookies (pineapple cookies and seaweed crackers) but I really couldn't afford the time. In addition, Li Syuen and Li Ning were taking turns of the fever, I'm totally worn out.

But, just to let them have fun in baking, I bought a box of ready-to-bake butter cookies, a pack of chocolate rice and a pack of chocolate chip. We had a very short and simple session of baking and of course, we had FUN! Hubby joined in the FUN too!

This is OUR cookies! Though we BURNED 2 trays out of 4 trays, we were satisfied with our homemade cookies. We are going to keep it to ourselves as it might taste awful for others..(laughing out loud)!!

Then, we had our Chinese New Year shopping at Jusco and Tesco. We managed to buy some drinks, some mandarin oranges, some cookies and a hamper for my girls' nanny. Letting Li Syuen to arrange the mandarin oranges.

This year we cut down on the lighting decoration. We hung a pair of BIG GOLDEN lantern only. The lanterns looked golden during the day and during the night, it shines like MILLIONS of STARS! We like the lanterns and enjoy admiring it :)

Though we had a very RUSHING preparation, we enjoy the moment doing all the stuff together; from spring cleaning to decorating our house, buying all the stuffs, giving away all the gifts etc.

Now, my next challenge is preparing DESSERT for our very BIG family on Chinese New Year Eve. It is gonna be around 17 adults and 10 children. Eewwww...hope that they will like the dessert that I planned to prepare :) Wish me all the best (laughing out loud again)!!

Chinese New Year Lighting

Kuala Kuang is a village with most of them are farmers. My hubby and I have been working in this area for almost 7 years! It is a small village yet there were lots of activity and events going on here. Simply amazed by the effort put on!

Every year during this time, my hubby will drive us around the village either by bike or by car; especially during night time. It is because most of the houses will be decorated with beautiful lightings. I managed to take a few snapshots of it despite of the rainy day these days.

Colourful lightings..

A moving heart-shaped on the window..creative!

Beautiful red lanterns with flowers and a pair of moving lanterns!

Hand-made big ribbons with some lightings.

Red and multi-colours lightings!

All RED lightings! Oopss...my hubby's third brother's house :)

Blue "rain drops" hanging on the main door.

Li Syuen said like stars in the sky..hehehehe...

Multi lantern decoration.

This is my favourite! It looks like meteor shower from the sky! Amazing!

A simple heart shape!

Can you imagine that most of the houses in Kuala Kuang are beautifully decorated with all the colourful lights? It is just another "Bintang Walk", I guess. :)

I still remember that last year my hubby and I hanging all the lights at our home. It is definitely NOT an easy job. We have to think of the design, the length, the colour, the amount etc. Other than that, the lighting could be kinda expensive too. The very basic lighting could cost from a few hundreds! Some residents didn't hang lights but they hung their HANDMADE ANGPOW LANTERN! There are all kinda pattern but too bad I didn't manage to take the snapshot, hopefully can get a few next year. Anyway, I just love the Chinese New Year air in Kuala Kuang.