Eat and eat and Eat

It's been an eating non stop kinda CNY celebration, it proved too much that yesterday I opted for a vegetarian hot pot at home...well almost vegetarian except the pork stock >.<

JS cooked the above abalone in superior stock. He purchased them back in Hong Kong a few weeks ago. Was really really good and huge - about the size of my palm. Yes I know, I'm a lucky gal hehehehehehe.

In return I whipped up some cream cheese vanilla cupcakes....intended to make them looking like peach blossom flowers but my skills were so limited when it comes to decorating cakes :P

Perhaps I should join some class but then where to find TIME?
there's so much to do and so little time :(((

But the most happy time were spent with lil Belle. She even had a haircut to look exactly like ME. Wuahahahahahaha. My precious~~~~~~

So how was your CNY? Lots of good eats and drinks?
:))))))))))
it's back to work today and no more holiday and break till April. We'll see if I am up for a short trip next month :))))))

Have a Happy Monday folks :))))

Vanilla cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting

 

I got inspired by Nee Lee after she sent me a glorious website and started whipping cupcakes out. You see, I'm not really a cupcake fan coz it's usually just way too sweet. Plus I'm a very very savoury person....and I'm taking a big risk making something that I don't like to eat.

the recipe begins with mixing 2 eggs together in the mixer
it's best if you always remove your eggs from your fridge to rest before started using them
*only for baking*

the rest of the stuffs required for these cupcakes

so in the mean time while the eggs are beating for 30 seconds, weigh 1 1/4 cups of cake flour
*cake flour has got lower protein content*
1 1/4 tsp of baking powder
1/2 tsp of baking soda
*I didn't know wat it was, and JS got me Natrium Bicabornate and I trust this engineer*
1/2 tsp of salt

then into the 2 eggs mixture, u add 3/4 cups of sugar
after it is completely mixed, u add in 1 1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract and 1/2 cup of vegetable oil

then reduce mixer's speed and slowly inter mix the flour mixture and 1/2 cup of Buttermilk
flour buttermilk flour buttermilk flour buttermilk

till it bcome completely thoroughly mixed like the above
so far so good rite? very easy rite?
most of all u don't use a lot of utensils = spells speedy cleaning later
line your muffin trays with papercups
and pour in the mixture 2/3 like the above
make sure you don't make a complete mess

in order to achieve that, just pour in the mixture into a jug/watever that u have with a pouring spout
and u will have a clean pour with no excess around your trays :))))

bake at 350 Fahrenheit = 176 celcius
for about 12-14 minutes depending on your oven
again pls do always use a pre-heated oven

my advice would be to always switch on your oven whenever you start to bake

*yesterday, my oven was switched on for 12 hours, baking/drying lavender off my soft toys, cream cheese fruits tarts, madeleine and finally roast potatoes for dinner :P*

the cupcakes are not perfect because I didn't sieve my ingredients :P
*lazy me*
okie, I will do better next time :)))))

do not let the cupcakes sit in its tray
once it is out...wait for a minute or two then transfer quickly into a wire rack
bcoz if it's gonna sit there, it will cook on its own pan

this recipe makes about 16 cupcakes
it could be more or less depending on how much your "pours" are
so I've separate them evenly - 8 cupcakes on each tray

next is the cream cheese frosting
prepare 1/2 cup of butter = 113 g
8 oz of cream cheese = 227 g

dunk them all in here....
by the way u need to take the butter out fr the fridge and let it rest for about 10 mins
it should be soft
then whip the above with 1 tsp of vanilla extract and 4 cups of powdered sugar *icing sugar*

When I saw the recipe 4 cups???? I actually reduced it to 2 cups
:P
and it proved to be a huge mistake....
>.<

whip till it bcomes like the above
creamie and yummy

put them into the pipping bag and start frosting
it was my first time frosting anything
>.<

it was horrible!!! coz it's so difficult for me....guess practice makes perfect huh?
well if u do use 4 cups of powdered sugar, then this frosting will be stiff but not too stiff, just nice
bcoz I added only 2 cups, it was a bit soft and will not sit nicely on top of the cupcakes

anyway....dun care lar...
maybe next time I'll just do 4 cups of powdered sugar
but the tasting note came....
my gawd....2 cups is already so darn sweet...I guess if I used 4 cups all my teeth gonna come out
>.<

but it was a good experience
I'll definitely attempt it again at 4 cups...just to see the results
and yes poor JS my guinea pig for all my baking
he also bought me this beautiful cupcakes stands
for every of my recipe, he'll get me something as "moral support" hahahhahahaha

so far he has gotten me a lot of nice and beautiful gadgets at home
including a beautiful glass holder for macarons *which I have yet to attempt*
he even got me the Pierre Hermes books on macarons :)))))
ok ok ok ok ok one day some day soon soon akan datang

thank you :)))))))))))))))))
you are the best guinea pig ever!!!!!
smoooocchhhhh ~~~~~~

and thank you to Nee Lee for inspiring this Monkey to get her ass into the kitchen and start baking
for more beautiful cupcakes to drool at, visit the author of this recipe at:
www.glorioustreats.com
trust me, after visiting this website it's gonna get ur asses into the kitchen too
:))))))))))))))

I Ching's Birthday

Beautiful cute super mini cupcakes 

in I Ching's favourite shades of color :)))))

we did a surprise lunchie wif her at home

it was more of a brunch

and everyone was just up fr bed....still very blur and sleepy and groogy

even when the birthday song was sang, she didn't know it's for her

-_-" aiyo~~~~~~

her name is very meaningful and suits her so perfectly
I Ching pronounced as "Ai Ching" in mandarin
it means LOVE


so I Ching is really full of love
with compassion which is so whole hearted
thoughtful and a kind person

I Ching wif Prince C - who looked rather hangover fr the previous nite


it's bcoz of her that he's a Perfect Man :P
well the saying is true that u dun find a Perfect Person in life for urself
u find someone that makes u a Perfect Person
someone so wholesome 
that completes u
hehehehe that is the power of "Ai Ching"....LOVE......Cinta....whichever language u call it, the meaning is there :))))))

HAPPY BIRTHDAY there!!!!!
so blessed to have friend like u :)))))))


my shopping partner in crime
my massage & spa kaki who enjoys it as much as I do
my confidante in every secrets and not-so-secret matters
and my friend :)))))))



for such a meaningful celebration we had 1979 Gaja
to be eaten with grand cru friend chicken Thomas Keller style
JS made it again for Sunday brunch

PRESSIE TIME!!!!!
my fav part *even though it's not for me* kekekekeke
opening pressie in any occasion is like VAVAVOOM for me
hahahhahahahha

the latest color from Bottega Veneta - Sapphire

her fav shades of color

Off Topic:

those who still didn't know yet.....

Bottega Veneta has closed its Starhill outlet and moved to Pavilion KL bout a few months ago

think this is like the 2nd time we bought Bottega Veneta in Msia

most of the time it's acquired elsewhere due to the huge price difference

can u imagine every single damn BV handbag cost more than RM 10k in Msia????

so dun blame me when I cart the whole BV boutique in Europe

JS the Cook

a more humble word than Chef

hahahahahahah

he made awesome fried chicken

us with Her Royal Highness
everyone wif their just-woke-up face
but then it's almost noon

she was so so so so so eppy
:)))))))))))))))
yea sumtimes the best thing in life is the simplest thing ever
simple food, even more simple company....at home, nothing fancy....dun even have to dress up


but then again it was Thomas Keller's Fried Chicken
it was a Gaja 79!!!! *it's even older than me*
Great company of ppl u loved
at a comfy home


hai.....wat am I saying here
anyway u know wat I mean about simplicity rite?
:)))))))

mini cupcakes by Wondermilk

they've just opened at Citta Mall

visit their website here

www.ilovewondermilk.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY I CHING

can't wait to see u this week!!!!

I've got a new place where we can shop while the Men golf....teee hee hee....ssshhhhhhhhhh....

:)))))))))))

Cupcakes!!!!

Baby Wei gave me these on her b-day.
So cute I can't even put em in my mouth..

but..
being a Monkey,
I've already ate one.

kua kua kua.

Thanks Baby Wei.
they were scrumptious
:))))))))

*edited*
Beautiful Cupcakes by:
Tracey
012-399 0333
http://www.flickr.com/photos/specialcakes