Matcha and Azuki Mousse Cake

The grand plan was to combine a few recipes to bake a birthday cake to my most trusted friend at work and another to a most helpful friend who, sadly, will be leaving for greener pastures.

I researched for a matcha sponge and decided on a light matcha chiffon. Then I searched for a matcha mousse recipe and adapted the recipe to make the Azuki mousse. The concern was whether the gelatine is enough to hold the mousse together and tada! I think it worked. ;)

However, my horrible piping skills very nearly ruined the cake when I tried to write some words on them. All in all I think they turned out pretty good. :)

Happy bdae, my dear friend and thank you, my other dear friend. 

In case

Those who are close to me know that I can be quite a gym rat and Cali has been a huge part of my life. Over the years, as I learnt to manage my time and 'obsession' better, Cali faded a bit into the background, though not much. 

So. They're closed. All 4 clubs. Officially. 

I felt sad because I started with them over ten years ago and it's where I built part of positive self image, fostered a few friendships and literally punched the stress out. 

When raffles club closed abruptly, we knew the other two will suffer the same fate quite soon. So, everyday was like the last class for the instructors and the members. Then, I caught a glimpse of the meaning of living every day like the last day.

It was because we knew the other clubs were closing soon that the instructors gave their best, in case that was the last class. The members did their best too, in case that was the last class. People huddled to take photograph together, in case that was the last class. We smiled  a lot more to familiar faces even though we never got the chance to know each other on a personal basis, in case that was the last class. We were a lot more tolerant of invaded space, in case that was the last class. We said our goodbyes with such unwillingness, in case that was the last class. 

What if we knew we only had a few days left? 

We would be be a lot more patient, kinder, less envious, less boastful, less easily angered, more forgiving, more truthful. We would protect, trust, hope and persevere. 

But, we wouldn't know when we'll die, would we? 

Still, live as if everyday is the last day. Just in case. 

July to bake

Ok, so I got carried away again and bought so many ingredients, then I got caught up with all the dramas I cannot stop watching. I'd better get organized and plan my bakes before my ingredients expire.

Buttermilk blackberry muffins because the buttermilk is expiring. I'll make it special with a cheese centre. 

Nutella brownies, tray baked. Because I need to experiment the correct duration to bake it so I stays fudgy like the muffin sized I tried and tested. Special touch? Probably add some peanut butter or left over homemade caramel. 

Mooncakes, sesame, no sugar white lotus, 5 nuts. Traditional shaped and piggy shaped in smaller sizes. Because the last piggy shaped ones are too huge for 1 person. 

Mango Yogurt Popsicle

It's been a long while since I posted a recipe. Here's an easy, relatively healthy Popsicle. I like the bits of mango that give quite a bite and the honey that adequately sweetens the Popsicle.

Ingredients

2 cups frozen mango

1 cup yogurt

4 tbsp honey

1/3 cup cream

A pinch of salt

1. Put all ingredients into a blender and blend away until smooth. 

2. Place a handful of mango and pulse for a few seconds, do not over pulse if you want bits of mango in the Popsicle.

3. Pour into Popsicle mould till frozen.

4. To unmould, run through with hot water. 

There! Enjoy! 

Ok! Pocky!

Ok! Pocky! A snack we are all so familiar with and something we will reward ourselves with when we just want something sweet and light. It's rather easy to make.

(Makes about 22 sticks) 

Ingredients

For the biscuit sticks 

130g bread flour

40g caster sugar

56g butter at room temperature

1 large egg

0.5 tsp baking powder 

0.5 tsp salt

0.25 tsp vanilla extract 

4 tsp lukewarm water 

To assemble

250g white chocolate

Green tea powder (optional)

Toppings like sprinkles, chopped nuts etc

1. Preheat the oven at 180 degrees. Cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy.

2. Add the vanilla extract and egg and mix till combined.

3. Add the flour, baking powder, salt and water and mix till combined.

4. Transfer the dough into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip.

5. Pipe long strips of about 10 cm on tray lined with baking paper.

6. Bake in preheated oven of 180 degrees for about 15 min or till brown. 

7. Leave to cool and in the meantime, prepare the chocolate dip.

8. Melt 250g of white chocolate over a pot of simmering water, being careful not to overheat it.

9. Coat the cooled biscuit sticks with melted white chocolate and add any toppings of your choice. 

10. If making green tea ones, mix a teaspoon or 2 of green tea powder into melted chocolate and coat away. 

It's relatively easy and fun to eat. Keep the pockys in the fridge to enjoy later. 

July up tos

Reading 'A Friend like Henry', it's a lovely story of how a sweet Golden retriever changed the life of an autistic boy.

Baking pocky of all sizes, long and short, fat and thin. Matcha or just white chocolate. 

Obsessing over the bouquet of hydrangea and tulips I arranged myself which I fear may become another expensive hobby.

Procrastinating work like there are many tomorrows. 

Musing that I have a nest right outside, on a potted plant and there are 2 eggs in it! 

Other than that, just thankful that there are 2 holidays this week.:)

Birthday

The birthday has come and gone. Well, I'm not too keen to celebrate elaborately with each passing birthday, I guess it's one thing trying to bluff myself that I'm forever 25 and another story altogether to have reality telling you, you're yet 1 year plus plus plus plus over 25.

This year, the grand plan was to bake 2 cakes, but I had time only to bake 1. It was great that it fell on a holiday though! Elated! So I asked myself what I want for my birthday cake. Here's the result,

Yes, I decided on a salted caramel popcorn cola cake. Cannot really taste the cola though. 

Here's me staring at my cake. 

累