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.

Baking Bees Contact Information:

bakingbees@yahoo.com.sg

www.facebook.com/bakingbees

http://queenbeebakes.blogspot.com/2011/12/baking-bees-contact-information.html

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.

Baking Bees Contact Information:

bakingbees@yahoo.com.sg

www.facebook.com/bakingbees

http://queenbeebakes.blogspot.com/2011/12/baking-bees-contact-information.html

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.

Baking Bees Contact Information:

bakingbees@yahoo.com.sg

www.facebook.com/bakingbees

http://queenbeebakes.blogspot.com/2011/12/baking-bees-contact-information.html

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.

Baking Bees Contact Information:

bakingbees@yahoo.com.sg

www.facebook.com/bakingbees

http://queenbeebakes.blogspot.com/2011/12/baking-bees-contact-information.html

   

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

Baking Bees Contact Information:

bakingbees@yahoo.com.sg

www.facebook.com/bakingbees

http://queenbeebakes.blogspot.com/2011/12/baking-bees-contact-information.html

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!

Baking Bees Contact Information:

bakingbees@yahoo.com.sg

www.facebook.com/bakingbees

http://queenbeebakes.blogspot.com/2011/12/baking-bees-contact-information.html

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!

Baking Bees Contact Information:

bakingbees@yahoo.com.sg

www.facebook.com/bakingbees

http://queenbeebakes.blogspot.com/2011/12/baking-bees-contact-information.html