Happy Birthday to Us!

It's my birthday today and sis SL's tomorrow. Had a small gathering at mum's and made a cake for sis. Elder sis came with brother-in-law and Fionn and cooked her pumpkin dessert; sis bought some pratas from Jalan Kayu and mum prepared chicken wings and fried wonton. She cooked the traditional sweet birthday noodles too. In additon to the cake, I baked two ham and mushroom quiche since elder sis is willing to be my guinea pig :)

This is a Vanilla sponge with white chocolate cream. I didn't eat any but I know they enjoyed it.

Happy Birthday, Ryan

When I need to make a sponge cake, I'll always be extremely cautious. Comparatively, much more careful than making a chiffon. After making two successfully, this was the final one that were used for making a birthday cake for Ryan. I'm a perfectionist at heart, so I'll try to do the best for every detail. Even though people told me that eventually, the cake would be concealed by the cream and decoration, I just can't cross that hurdle. So I'm glad that the sponge cake came out nicely.

A simple, no frill decoration with Van Houten Chocolate with assortment of nuts.

Happy Birthday, Ryan. I'll always remember that day when you caress my hand which was inserted with a plug for the drip after delivering Nataniel. You were just six years old but you came over to my bedside and gently asked if I were in pain. That moment just melt my heart.

Happy Birthday, Nataniel

Nataniel is eight today. I had some plans in mind initially but since that unhappy event happened, my mind had somehow been affected. This cake could have been done better and I'm thankful that he was smiling happily at the sight of his beloved toy instead of looking at the flaws. Innocence is bliss!


This is a coffee sponge with mocha cream.

Happy Birthday, Hazel

Pokemon character - Piplup

I need to practice on making cakes with cartoon character. Since making the only one from Richard's cake icing class, I have not tried doing it again. Not so bad after all. I did this cake with non-dairy whipping cream and fortunately, I was able to complete the icing without it drying out fast. This will mark the beginning of my iced-cakes.

These were two of the cakes done in Richard's cake icing class in 2007. How time flies!

Pokemon characters - torchic, treko and mudkip

Happy Birthday, SL

It's sis SL birthday today but I made this cake yesterday since mum asked if we'll be 'celebrating' together. Chocolate is not my cup of tea and to get CC and the kids to finish any chocolate cake would also be a challenge. Without getting a valid reason, I won't have a go in doing this cake which I badly wanted to try. Well, it didn't turn out that bad, mum and sis liked it, so did Nicholas. The last I heard was Hazel loved it too, and she brought home mum's share. I'll know who I should give my chocolate cake to the next time I attempt this recipe.

Happy Birthday Nataniel

Today is Nataniel's 7th birthday and coincidentally falls on the same day as father's lunar birthday. I rushed this cake out in the morning before going to parents' house to eat our teochew birthday sweet noodle. Came back in the evening to do the piping and manage to get the cake done around nine. Since CC is not in, the boys agreed to take simple dinner instead of going to the restaurant. Nataniel was elated when he saw the cake.

Happy Birthday, Father

Father only celebrates his lunar birthday, as he has very traditional chinese value. As bro and sis-in-law has to work tomorrow, we had lunch at Miramar Hotel today as a celebration.
I made a yam cream cake for father this year because I felt that I should put what I had learned into practice.

My icing still need more practice but my piping skill did improve. I ran out of time so I couldn't pipe roses on the cake so I substituted with some store bought ones. I'm rather pleased that it has a traditional look.

Happy Birthday, Fionn

Today's Fionn's 16th birthday and I made this cake for her. She likes strawberries so I think it's a good idea to present a strawberry cake to her. I couldn't replicate a neater version of this from the book I'd sourced but hope she likes it!

Happy Birthday, Nicholas

Nicholas turned twelve in January and I'd decided to bake him a cake. These are miniatures of Nicholas' soft toys. He said he wanted them on his birthday cake. I'm glad that they looked so cute!