Baking Bees: 2012

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Avengers Cupcakes for My Dear Iggy Boy

My 2nd son Ignatius is a big Avengers fan. We watched the movie at the theatre in May and we thoroughly enjoyed it!

Iggy is right next to me.

Ignatius (Iggy for short) was celebrating his milestone birthday this year. To us, turning 7 is significant as it will be our son's first year in a formal school so we wish have let him have a nice memory of it. Iggy didn't want the same thing as Aloysius' 7th birthday party a year before - we booked a function room and hired an event company to entertain the children, including siblings, nieces, friends and classmates.

Iggy's party was at KidsAmaze @ Safra Jurong.

Iggy is an active boy who has many friends. He reminded me to make sure that his best friend Glendon from Marymount Kindergarten was invited. We invited his whole class (1 Gabriel) from St. Joseph's Institution Junior.

Iggy's favourite colour is green, just like mommy and younger brother Ascensius. I suggested having green letters to make up the birthday message on the cupcakes. His favourite hero from Avengers is Iron Man, hence the red icing. His second favourite is Hawkeye, so the second colour is blue.

I loved decorating cupcakes because I loved making my signature rose. It makes me really happy looking at the beautiful swirls.

For the cupcake toppers, I ordered Avengers mini pics on edible wafer. Each cupcake has a cupcake topper. In all, I made 45 cupcakes.

A bucketful of yummy butter cookies

Apart from cupcakes, I decided to make number 7 butter cookies with icing for Iggy to give away as party favours.

I felt like I was Christina and her bucketful of Number 7 Cookies (just like Harry and his bucketful of dinosaurs)!

4 butter cookies decorated with royal icing, packed in small ziplock bags to maintain freshness. I was very delighted to know that the kids loved the cookies ^_^

I also learnt that it wasn't easy to draw long straight lines with royal icing! Hahahaha

Birthday boy Iggy (in orange) enjoying the cupcakes, with my nieces Janice and Jessica and his elder brother Aloysius ^_^

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Izach's Lego Blocks

Izach is my second son Ignatius' classmate at St Joseph's Institution Junior. They are in Pri 1 this year. Izach's mom wanted to find a nice Lego Ninjago cake for Izach, so she was looking around for designs.

One evening Dolly asked if I would like to make Izach's birthday. I was delighted to be asked ^_^

But I had been really busy from baking almost non-stop as Ignatius' and Dimitrius' (Baby D) birthday parties were celebrated just 2 weeks apart (18th Aug and 1st Sep). Izach's cake was required on 9th Sep. All the baking projects were vastly different, and I was glad to be able to gain more experience.

But I wasn't confident of making Lego characters from fondant. After some discussion, I almost wanted to throw in the towel.The only design I was confident of doing as jumbo Lego blocks. Dolly said it would be fine and the birthday boy could place his Ninjago characters all over the cake as he desired! Hahaha

The 2 Lego blocks may look simple but it's quite time consuming - 2 x 10" square cakes made up the 2 blocks and the knobs were each made from 3 layers of cake circles.

At the end of the day, everyone enjoyed the cake and that's all that matters! ^_^

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Monday, November 5, 2012

Baby Dimitrius' First Birthday Party @ 1st Sep

Dimitrius Cathal

Months before Baby Dimitrius' first birthday party, I thought long and hard if I wanted to take the risk to make my 4th son's birthday cake myself. It would be much easier to just find a bakery and order a nice big cake. I intended to go along with the Sesame Street theme, just like the first birthdays of the other 3 brothers. Quite unimaginative huh? Baby D didn't like watching TV, so I really didn't know if he likes Elmo ^_^

Mommy & Baby D

Baby D's cake would be my first fondant covered cake, apart for the one I made for the test at the end of my course where I had to bake a cake, cover it with fondant and decorate all over.

I wanted very much to make Baby D's cake. I had grand plans - buy a number 1 cake pan and make all the decorations from scratch! Frankly, I didn't know how to make gumpaste figurines.

2 kind friends helped in my quest - one helped to bring back my number one cake pan and another helped to bring back the Sesame Street candles and cupcake rings. Thanks Andrew and Kenny.

I searched for my old Sesame Street character figurines, which I had bought some years ago as cake toppers for Ascensius' first birthday cake. Decided to use them to decorate Baby D's cake, instead of trying to make my own figurines.

About 2 weeks before the party, I had an idea. I should try to make a marble number 1 cake, just to make it special, instead of just plain vanilla or chocolate. The test cake tasted nice but it didn't look very pretty, in fact it looked kind of unattractive and I was afraid that the dark swirls would show up clearly under the white fondant! Idea was aborted in a jiffy!

The number one base cake is quite long and the shape is irregular. It would be my biggest challenge ever but I was up for it. All in all, it took me 4 nights to bake all the cakes and cupcakes and to complete the cake decorations. It was pretty hard work and I was glad to have the support of my hubby, whom even sat with me to roll out fondant and help me to cut the little stars! I think he has the potential to be a cake decorator! Hahahaha

At 12am the night before, I felt like I was racing against time. Progress was slow and I felt really tired! By 3am, I had to hit the sack and my back was breaking after sitting down for the last 5 hours. I was sure I would not be able to complete the cake and cupcakes, plus I would look like a big panda at the party! I felt sad.....

I prayed hard, I asked for help as I felt really stressed out. "Lord, please do not let my efforts go to waste, I have come so far! Please give me strength and peace to complete what I set out to do. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen!"

I went to bed, had a good rest and started working again at 9am. By the grace of God, I was truly amazed. The huge white fondant piece covered the number one base cake totally! ^_^
The rest of the cake and cupcakes decorations were completed before 1pm! As the party was at 6pm, I even had a chance for a nap!

Colourful Baby D Cupcakes

My parents, siblings and their kids and us, celebrating Baby D's birthday together

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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Erin's 8th Birthday Cupcakes

Early September, my good friend Carmen asked me over dinner, to bake a bunch of cupcakes for her daughter's birthday celebration at school. I was delighted to have the opportunity to create something pretty for a lovely girl whom I've known since birth.

Erin's favourite colours are pink and lilac, so that was to be the main colours for the icing. I love to make girlie cupcakes as I do not have much chance to make it for my family since I have 4 sons ;)

Usually orders start with asking about preferences - cupcake flavours, birthday message, icing colours and decorations like flowers, leaves, stars. After gathering what Erin may like, I started to conceptualize what the cupcakes would look like. This may sound very old-fashioned but I like to draw out what the design will look like and I take time to ensure the colours all match.

Pretty Lilac icing with a small and large daisy

Demure Pink icing with a medium daisy and a letter

40 cupcakes for Erin's school celebration

I was glad to hear that the birthday girl loved the design and her classmates loved the cupcakes! :)

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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Happy Teachers Day 2012

A special occasion every year, where we pay tribute to the amazing individuals in a remarkable profession.

Would I have become a teacher? I often wonder. It surprised many I meet and I'm sure more will be surprised in future that I actually have an Honours degree in Geography. Apart from being totally passionate about baking & planning for HP's laserjet business, my other true passion is Geography *grin* Otherwise how do you study a subject for 10 years at school and still love it?

Enough about me.

Sincere thanks to teachers at St. Joseph's Institution Junior, Marymount Kindergarten and Confucius Institute for teaching my 3 boys. This year I made cupcakes for these amazing individuals who happen to be all ladies, so I settled on a Pretty in Pink theme.

Very adorable box for 4 cupcakes.

Pretty in Pink cupcake up close and personal.

View of the box from the top and front.

An old friend ordered some Pretty in Pink cupcakes plus some of another Teacher's Day theme - Resort Holiday. After completing the cupcakes, I felt like flying to a nice beach resort for a short getaway!

Resort Holiday theme cupcakes.

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Sunday, September 9, 2012

Red Velvet - the new fad or new fab?

All of a sudden, Red Velvet is EVERYWHERE!

I see it on tv, in the newspapers and magazines, in cafes, in restaurants, and someone somewhere is always talking about it. I was really intrigued by a cake that is supposed to contain beet root juice!

After reading up, I realized that in modern times, the Red Velvet has evolved and no longer contains real beetroot juice but has a deep red hue due to the red colouring used.

Red Velvet cakes and cupcakes are served with cream cheese frosting. Sounds really yummy to me!

I first tried Red Velvet at Medzs. It was really good and became my favourite cake in no time! I told myself that I would learn how to make a good Red Velvet. I also tried a real Red Velvet at NYDC, made with beetroot juice but I didn't think it was nice.

It's good to have all the cooking channels on cable, I picked up a few tips to make my Red Velvets really soft and moist. I also tweaked the cream cheese frosting to make it quite irresistible. Want to try some?

I only lament that I need to buy bigger round tips, my cream cheese frosting need to be thicker and rounder.

NEW FAD or NEW FAB(ULOUS), this is my favourite cake for sure!

I only lament that I need to buy bigger round tips,

my cream cheese frosting need to be thicker and rounder.

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Starry Starry Night - Aloysius' 8th Birthday Cake

My eldest son celebrated his 8th birthday in April. Months before his birthday, we decided to do away with themes since he is older and he isn't into the usual cartoon characters like Ben10 or Beyblades.

So what kind of cake shall I make? That was the tough part.

I discussed with Aloysius and we decided on a cake full of stars!

A 3-layer cake - chocolate, red velvet and chocolate, covered with fondant and decorated with tons of stars in all sizes and personalized with his name and also adorned with shooting stars!

Also matching starry personalized cupcakes with a special one just for the birthday boy.

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Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Chinese New Year Whole Cakes

My good friend Beatrice's mother-in-law is actually my 1st whole cake customer. Aunty first tried my cake at her grandson's birthday party, I made the soccer ball cake for Beatrice's sons Gerald and Glendon.

Aunty was really supportive and ordered 2 whole cakes for Chinese New Year. She didn't have any special design requests, just wanted something with the CNY theme. I had grand plans..... maybe I can make fondant firecrackers, mandarin oranges, ang pows, etc.

I underestimated the time that I would need :P I had to bake, ice and decorate 2 whole cakes!

I ended up ordering chocolate koi pieces, bought gold coin chocolate pieces and making fondant mandarin oranges.

Here's what the final products looked like:

I thought the designs looked quite festive :) What do you think?

In addition, at the same time, I made 2 dozens of CNY cupcakes for my 3rd son Ascensius and my dearest sister. Ascensius was born on the 2nd day of CNY so we usually celebrate his birthday when we go to my parents place on the 1st day.

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Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Muffins - Ultimate Comfort Food

I love muffins, and my hubby and kids love muffins!

I bake muffins when I'm happy, sad, tired or bored. They are always taste good.

Toppings are limitless - choocolate chips, oreos, white chocolate chunks, chocolate rice,

rainbow rice, cranberries, raisins, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, apples, almonds,
in fact anything you fancy!

It's our favourite tea time snack!

Chocolate Chips and Oreos

Chocolate Rice

Mixed Fruit

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Introducing New Products - Pretty Strawberry Shortcake and Dainty Peach Shortcakes

*Update*

I have perfected my whipped cream frosting and now my shortcake is even prettier *wink*

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I starting experimenting with shortcakes as my sister wanted something lighter for her birthday cake. Shortcake is fragrant and soft. Frosting is a non-dairy whipping cream that is light and pleasantly sweet.

This cake needs to be refrigerated, unlike my other cakes. Other fruits which can be used are blueberries and pineapple.

Reviews have been really good and I am encouraged by the positive feedback!

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Ascensius' 4th Birthday - A Rainbow Connection

In Feb, we celebrated Ascensius' 4th birthday at home. It wasn't a milestone birthday, so it's just a small party at home with friends. No special theme and I was toying with the idea of making rainbow cupcakes, inspired by Martha Taylor's big round rainbow cakes.

I asked Ascensius and he said ok! To add a special touch, I bought a small race car candle holder with a tiny number 4 sticker on it. Fondant top was stamped with his name and a number 4 on top of the fondant star.

Unfortunately, I used the wrong setting on my oven and ended up baking each coloured layer for too long :(

The cupcakes turned out a little too hard, which was a shame. But overall they looked really bright and cheery!

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Friday, January 20, 2012

Cupcakes With Embossed Names Coming Soon

I met a kind-hearted blogger, she shared with me how to embossed names onto Fondant. I have been looking for this tool for the longest time and it's sold at one of the baking supplies shops which I frequent! Hahaha :)

I will be using the tool to emboss Ascensius' name onto the rainbow cupcakes that he will be bringing to school on 8th Feb to celebrate his 4th birthday!

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Chinese New Year

Starting from this Friday night (20th Jan), I will be busy making 4 batches of buttercream icing, cutting many small Fondant letters, making 2 whole cakes and 36 cupcakes.

Lots of baking and decorating to do!

The whole cakes are for a dear friend and her mother-in-law who are ardent supporters! Thanks Bea and Aunty!