Wynx Club Cake

Received an email one afternoon for a Wynx Club Cake.   Had no idea what it was so had to google to do some research.    Since the enquiry came quite late (delivery needed in 3 days), I had no time to do an edible image cake, so I proposed a cartoon drawing cake instead.

Having just done one other cartoon drawing method just a couple of weeks ago, I bravely embarked on this Wynx Club design.    While I was drawing out the outline of the image, Bryan came by and asked "Mom, what cake are you doing?".   He then paused for a couple of seconds and waited for my reply but I was too busy concentrating hard on the image to get it right.  Then he said "Mom, you doing Wynx Club cake ah?"   Fuh!   Am I glad he could recognise it!!!  Means ok la!

Glad it turned out alright.  Could be better.   Hope to improve over time with more practise.

Customer ordered it for her niece's 8th birthday.   She wanted a pure butter cake.  FYI, I only use 100% pure butter for my cakes.   The finished cake is actually pretty heavy even for an 8" cake.   

Some potential customers do enquire about the weight of my cake and when I tell them its close to 2kg for just an 8" cake, they dont believe me.  I guess they are used to getting lighter cakes from the bakeries who by the way, some use only sponge cakes, okay!!!  So thats why they lighter, so they bake into a bigger size and charge you slightly cheaper la.  Once you try a home made pure butter cake, you will never to bake to the regular bakery shops :D   Im sure many home bakers will agree with me.

For more designs on cakes and cupcakes, do "Like" me at www.facebook.com/ConfectionsKL

Bryan's Mid Year Report Card

This is Bryan's third year in kindergarten.    During the first 2 years, it was more like playschool and nothing really academic.   Only this year, they have introduced so called proper subjects and kids have to sit for formal mid and year end examinations and are given proper report cards.   Bahasa Malaysia was introduced for the first time as well as Moral, in addition to English, Maths and Mandarin.

Last year, Bryan hardly spoke any Mandarin.   He was more playful and didnt want to learn to speak the language much.   He was in fact, pretty shy to speak in Mandarin then.   He got a C for spoken Mandarin and got a B for written Mandarin when we were shown his exam papers back in Dec last year.  Daddie was devastated! But mommie was cool :D   From then on, Daddie tried to speak in Mandarin to him and coached him a lot on his Mandarin homework and practiced a lot on writing chinese words too.  He also picked up mandarin speaking at his mental maths classes where majority of the kids there are Chinese.  Since then he has progressed really well.   Daddie was rewarded with an A for ting-xie and B for spoken Mandarin.  

Since Bahasa was just introduced 6 months ago and we almost never speak Bahasa at home, we were told to read more to him so that he can recognise more Bahasa words.  So now the pressure is on Mommie to perform ..haha.

Bryan generally speaks good English and we were curious why he only got 95% for spoken English .. teacher explained that he always speaks and ends his sentences with lah lah lah eg nevermind lah, ok lah .. omg!!!   I wonder where he learnt this!!   Daddie says its from  mommie wor ... aiyoh sei for!  I better speak properly from now on.

Mental Arithmetic Class For My 5 Yr Old

Its been quite some time since I posted any updates on my brat.   Its been routine stuff mostly ie school and some weekend classes that we send him too.     Since Jan, we decided to keep him a little more busier cos he just spends too much time on TV especially on weekends.

We have started him on mental arithmetic classes twice a week as well as an arts and craft class on Sundays.   Our choice was one academic lesson and one extra curricular activity (eg art, music or sports).

The first 2 weeks was tough.  He didnt enjoy the mental arithmetic class because his teacher was a little more strict with him compared to his kindy teacher.    Perhaps this is a light dose of how a primary chinese school environment would be compared to the current montessori environment he goes too.

He didnt want to go and would sulk every time I reminded him that he has classes today, etc.    Not only it was tough for him, I think the teacher also found it tough to teach him - cos he would not sit still - even for 10 seconds!   Instead of doing concentrating on his work, he would look around, see his friends book, play with his rubber, sharpen his pencils, day dream or go to the toilet every 5 mins.   Thats what the teacher told me .. and I totally believe her cos thats exactly what he does at home as well .. sigh.  

On week 3, I heard some magic words!   The teacher told me that she finds Bryan a really smart boy!  Just that he cant sit still for a longer period of time .. hahaha.   Since then, it has been quite a smooth journey.   I guess the teacher found a way to communicate better with him.   Most of the time now, he enjoys the classes.  After 6 months, the lessons are getting tough.   Even mommie and daddie have to think twice how to get the answer correctly using the correct method on his abacus.  If that day the teacher taught him a new chapter or bigger set of numbers, he would usually get 5 or 6 out of 20 wrong.  And that would put him in a really bad mood.   He would then come home with a black long face and tell us that he got so many wrong answers!!   We then have to sayang him and encourage him and promise him that the next lesson, we will ask the teacher to teach him again so that he can get all the answers correct - then his mood is better and cheers up instantly.   And true to behold, in the next class, he would proudly tell us that he got all correct answers that day!  That's my boy, very moody if he gets them wrong and very happy when he gets them all correct.

Its been 6 months now and we are happy with his progress.   Not only in mental maths but we are also proud that he has picked up Mandarin speaking as well.   I have mentioned to the teacher when we first registered Bryan there, that we plan to send him to a chinese primary school and preferred that the teacher speak to him in Mandarin although he could hardly speak a word then.    Now he is willing to speak Mandarin naturally even at home but its usually English with me and Mandarin with daddie, which works perfectly.

When he turns 6 next year, we will stop the arts and crafts class and enrol him into a sport, either golf or badminton as well as some leisure swimming lessons.   And if he prefers, either drums or piano.   He did mention he wants guitar lessons ... so we'll see.

What other extra or enrichment classes does your kid attend?

Ombre Daisy Cupcake

There was a wave of rainbow cakes and now its the ombre wave!   After seeing some really good designs on line, I decided to venture on one with my very own daisy designed cupcake, albeit a simpler design.

Customers usually do have a theme in mind.  That makes it easier for me to propose designs of a similar theme.   Most of the time, they allow me a freehand on what I can come up with.  

There is also the other half of my customers who dont have a specific occasion and just want to order a box for tea or to be shared with family and friends.   I love working with this group cos it gives me the flexibility to explore new designs that I have never attempted before.   This is when the ombre daisy came into mind.   I think this batch is suitable for any occasion, even CNY!!

I'm hoping to venture into fondant work in the near future, especially on fondant covered cakes and figurine moulding.   Mom was telling me .. what so difficult, just roll out the fondant and put over the cake la .. hahaha wish it was that easy Mom :D

Pirate Themed Birthday Party Cake!!

A specially commissioned 3D pirate ship cake and pirate boy cupcakes for 6 year old Nicolo!!!

When I was first asked to do a 3D pirate ship cake, I almost did not want to take the order.  Reason being, I have never really sculpted a ship cake before and was not sure if I could do it.     I have previously done a 3D LV Handbag cake using a different cake recipe (pound cake) but this pirate cake was to be in a moist chocolate cake instead!  Pound cakes are studier, easier to carve - but does not taste as good as a fluffy butter cakes, in my opinion.   Nevertheless, if you never try, you will never know.   So off I went to explore on my recipe and at the end, was glad I took on the challenge.

The test cake was baked with perfection - at least that's what hubby said.   Then I set out to plan the rest of the cake (in my head!)   On baking day, hubby was considerate enough to take Bryan out for half a day window shopping at Mid Valley while I worked on the cake.   I was so grateful.   Without any disturbance, I manage to complete it before they got home.  

In my heart, I was really thankful for the customer in placing her trust in me, a complete stranger whom she found online.   In return, I wanted to surprise her with an extra box of cupcakes - for free!!!     I immediately set out to bake a dozen cupcakes in vanilla, covered it with buttercream and designed it to coincide with the party theme.  

On the day of the party, I was getting quite anxious at home.  I could not help but wonder if the cake was well received (cos customer was a European expatriate) and if they liked the extra cupcakes.   

Then suddenly, later in the afternoon, the sms came in!

"Dear Joanna, thanks a lot!!   The cake and cupcakes were fantastic!  I have given your contact to some of the other parents.   Love, Giovanna."

Oh boy!  That made my day!  Showed hubby the sms ... cos so darn proud of myself in taking up this challenge.   Now this has spurned me to take on more orders which previously I would have rejected as I just didnt have the courage to explore something beyond my comfort zone.   I am so glad I am progressing slowly but surely, in something I ventured out to do for me and myself.  

For complete range of cake and cupcake designs, "Like" my page at www.facebook.com/ConfectionsKL

The Heritage Village, Seri Kembangan

We took a short walk around Heritage Village after we were done at Critterland.   The place generally looks not too well maintained.   This property is built facing a lake called Blu Water (I believe it used to be a mining lake) and is said to be maintained by the same property management team as the Palace of Golden Horses (Mr Google said so, not me).

Nothing much to be fancied but being a waterfront property, I must say it was a nice stroll around the area.     Sharing with you some photos we took there.   

They had stone statues of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac sign, so naturally Bryan had to pose with this huge oink!    If it was not for the hot weather, we would have spent more time strolling around but its just too hot as we were there right smack in the afternoon!

Critterland & Paper Wrapped Chicken @ Seri Kembangan

We really dont know what to do or where to go during the recent school holidays.  As we are also planning for a trip to Singapore again during Raya and Port Dickson and Melaka during the long weekend of National Day, we decided not to take leave this round.

If we dont take leave, means we are only able to take the brat out on Saturday.  Sunday is rest day - cannot compromise .. hahaha.    Some more have to do housework.    So we ended up in Critterland located at Heritage Village, which was across the road from The Mines Shopping Centre.

I chose this place cos I heard there are hardly any crowd (meaning not very well maintained ... hahaha).   I also chose this because parents need not pay to enter to accompany their kids.    Living in KL is so expensive, not only have to pay to let our kids play, parents also have to pay to take care of their kids!!!  Hmmph!!!

Didnt have any expectations at all once I saw the condition of the building.  It seems like a service apartment with some 'water-front" dining which were all closed and generally not that well maintained.  Critterland was located on the first floor.

Was glad to let him run & jump for a whole 2 hrs before we decided to head out for lunch.      As we were just driving out of Heritage Village, we noticed a corner shop, tables filled with customers.   Without hesitating, we decided to have lunch there.  

Oh boy!  They indeed serve very very good chi pau kai (paper wrapped chicken)!   Loved it.  Even Bryan wanted second helpings!     You can read about Restoran Leng Ya Indah here.    Its really quite good.     One piece cost RM3.80.   Apparently they have been in operatations for quite a long number of years.   The yong tau foo is not too bad either.   Will definitely be back since its not that far from my place.

And oh ya, dont forget to try this too - pineapple juice with assam boi!   Naturally sweet (no added sugar, they say) - very nice too.   As you can see, Bryan simply could not wait .. hahaha.

Cartoon Drawing Cake

My first ever try at drawing cartoon designs on a cake!  

Pheww!    Always thought it would be hard but once you give it a try, its actually pretty easy.    Now I am more confident of trying out bigger shaped cartoon images and also more complicated background designs.

I find that when drawing (anything), the most important is to get the facial expressions right.   The other features dont really matter that much.   Once you get the face right, the image would seem right.   But if the face seems "deformed", no matter how accurate you got the face, body, legs & hands, the entire image would still seem deformed!    So if you want to give this a try, do ensure you pay attention to the face .. hahaha.

More designs available at www.facebook.com/ConfectionsKL

Chicken Curry Bread @ Kampar - Yumz!!

I've heard about this chicken curry bread even in KL years ago but never ever tried it.   So after our Gua Tempurung adventure and a good dose of exercise, naturally we looked for food.

Having a great tour-guide (bro-in-law) who also enjoys cuti-cuti Malaysia and food trips around the country, we headed to this famous place located at the town centre of Kampar, called Restoran Yau Kee. 

So glad they have airconditioned dining area!   After all cuti-cuti Malaysia is memang hot stuff ... hahaha.   And the next thing I noticed was every single table there ordered this similar dish - the chicken curry bread.   Looks totally ordinary ... but wait till you cut it open ...

Damn!  Before even posting up the inside of the bread, I already salivating while typing this.   Gosh!   Really need to go there again - SOON!!

The curry is really good!   Creamy and thick and taste heavenly.  The bread was really soft and fluffy and tasted darn good when dipped in the curry!!!!  Oh god, help.  Salivating like crazy now!

This bread dish comes in 2 flavours.  The all time chicken curry favourite above and also another version in herbal broth.   The herbal broth chicken is equally good I must say but when eaten with the curry version, the chicken curry just stand up so high above the herbal version.   I still enjoyed my herbal chic drumstick ;)   The kiddo loved it too cos the curry was a bit spicy for his age.

We had 10 adults + 1 kiddo so we had to order more dishes.   We had a fish, vege, tofu and marmite pork and the freaking bill just came up to RM130.  Can you beat that??!!    Really makes me feel that KL food is sooooo expensive that now I dont wanna eat out ... eeekkk!

If you are in Ipoh/Kampar area, dont forget to check out this place ok.  I can guarantee you its worth the drive!

Yat Yat Seng Curry Noodles @ Ipoh

Time for brunch in Ipoh and bro-in-law introduced us to this stall for some hearty dose of noodles.   It seems they offer really good chicken hor fun (chicken kuay teow soup noodles) but it is the curry noodles that you need to give it a try.   Dont really know the exact address but Mr Google can be of help if you are in Ipoh ;)

This particular type of curry noodles is pretty thick and creamy and it has an extra strong smell and taste of curry paste that is similar taste and smell to curry powder.  You may or may not like having your curry noodles cooked with such strong smell - but for me, its worth a try - and I liked it.   Its different from the ones you would usually get in KL or Penang or from any curry noodle stall - totally worth a try!

Be forwarned that the lady cook is a bit lan-si, just like any other famous noodles stalls.  We were seated all the way at the last table placed on the walkway/pavement ;(   That is how packed this place is during our late breakfast.

Didnt get a good shot of my yummylicious curry noodles cos need to feed Bryan his noodles as well and it was freaking hot la in Ipoh, but anyway, here's a pics of my very satisfying late breakfast ;)

Actually, before I even step foot in Ipoh, I was already craving for the claypot crab tanghoon noodles ... but sigh ... we went there for dinner but I didnt know we had to pre-order.  Sampai sana, semua ada ... except my beloved claypot crab tanghoon noodles.   Can you imagine - salivating and all and DONT GET TO EAT???    My face also turn black like wok already but nevermind ....

Gua Tempurung, Gopeng, Perak

Gua Tempurung - my vote for the most beautiful place to visit in Malaysia!!  Seriously!  I am so so glad my bro-in-law suggested we visit this place when we were there for a one-night stopover to Ipoh.   I am actually so ashamed that as a Malaysian for donkey years, I have never visited this place but spend so much money visiting other caves in Australia, etc.   This place is such a natural beauty - you really need to see it with your own eyes.

Below, my brat posing at the entrance.

I was not sure if it will be a difficult walk for the little one but my bro-in-law assured me that it will be fine.  There are good steel staircases for you all the way.  There are also some stop-rest-view areas where you can catch your breath.

Below is where the journey begins ....

I was not able to capture any good shots of the caves using my Iphone so I am sharing with you some pics I took from the internet.  Credit goes to the original photographer and sorry I didnt ask your permission first.   Its just too beautiful not to be shared.   And if you ask me - does it look as beautiful as in the photo - my answer is a loud YES, if not BETTER!!

We probably covered at least a few hundred steps.  Definitely more than what you see at Batu Caves (I swear!) but there are many stops along the way, so no worries.

We have no idea how far deep you can go but we stopped after about an hour.  There are guide which you can follow and listen to all the commentaries but with the little brat with us, we walked on our own and at our own pace.    At certain parts, the stairs were wet from water drippings but on most parts, it was easy but you will be still drenched in sweat albeit the natural "air-cond" inside the cave!!

You dont need any special shoes or anything although it would have been better.   We were in slippers.    Different rates for different activities in Gua Tempurung.  Our red sticker was for the "easy route"  There are more strenous longer routes and definately more challenging.

Do not miss this if you are in Ipoh.  I repeat, do not miss this.  Nature's beauty for only RM6.  What a waste that the Govt has not done anything to promote this place!

School Holiday Cupcakes

Its school holidays which means its FUN TIME for the kids!     Outings to the local zoo, by-the-stream picnics or a day at the mall is part and parcel of how we normally spend the holidays with the kids.    Too bad I still have a full time job and Bryan needs to stay home all day.  Will have to wait till the weekend before we take him out for a day trip somewhere (yet to decide, uuh!!)

A friend of mine recommended another friend to try my cupcakes for a picnic party the school is planning on the last day of school before they break for the mid-year holidays.   No specific request but just cupcakes for both the boys & girls in kindy.

I had cars in mind for boys naturally and for the girls, I wanted to do some flower  and garden themed design ... but I had no idea how many girls or boys specifically they had, so I changed it to colorful sprinkles and stars instead, which can then suit either a boy or girl .. just in case all the cars are taken up!

The mommy who came to collect the cupcakes was very excited to see this.  She told me that her boy would jump when he sees this!  And she also told me that she is also personally very excited and really liked the designs I made for her.

Actually this is my first time really using fondant to shape freehand.   I think they turned out ok ... they do indeed look like mini cars mah ... hehehe.   Hope they had a fun time picnic-ing in the park!! 

More designs available at www.facebook.com/ConfectionsKL.

Ti-Ratana Family Day @ Cheras

Found out about Ti-Ratana's Fun and Food Fair cum Family Day celebrations from an office colleague.    Since she knew I would be fairly familiar with Cheras, she asked me for directions which I gladly drew out a map for her .. and she rewarded me with RM50 worth of coupons!

As it was held on a Sunday and was only from 9am - 2pm, I gladly accepted the coupons as I thought it would be a nice outing with Bryan for an hour or so before he has to head off for arts and crafts class at 2pm.

The first thing we noticed when we arrived there was this cute horsie ride!  Oh boy!  Bryan was all excited and was running towards the horsie registration desk and kept hurrying his dad .. Daddy, faster pay, faster pay.   By then, our brat was already queueing up, waiting for this turn.

There were a good variety of stalls lining up the road leading to this centre.   Mostly were food stalls, some fresh vegetable stalls, clothings, toys, even mobile prepaid carts, ice-cream, drinks, cookies & cakes, etc. 

Another favourite of the brat was all the game carts!   The community centre's volunteers came up with simple yet fun games for kids of all ages.   Simple items like using bottle, bottle caps, ping pong balls, etc.

These simple games really got me interested in the sense that they are so easy to recreate them on your own, materials are cheap but they all provide heaps of fun!!   These are some good ideas on some games that you can organise at home during your kid's birthday parties, etc!   Rather than the usual clown, face painting ,etc.  I think this can be a hit at Bryan's next birthday party!!

Cars Edible Image Cake

Sharing with you an order I recently completed for another blogger mom (thanks Lynette!).   Glad she trusted me with this order and was thankful she also ordered some Teachers' Day cupcakes from me as well. 

Request was for a edible image Cars cake with the base cake in chocolate cheese.  Have you ever tried this combination on a cake?  Some are worried that 2 strong flavours may not compliment each other - but this is one good combination I tell ya!

I felt that just adding on the edible image still seemed plain, so I decided to do a little banner to be hung over the cake.  Think & think and ended up with a banner like in the pics.   Does it look ok?

This is how it looks beneath all the decoration :D

I really dont know how to explain the joy that cake baking & decoration gives me.   I remember clearly it all started from the day I ordered cupcakes for Bryan's fullmoon party (and that's 5 years ago!) and never got to venture hands-on until we moved to our own house 2 years ago.    Bought myself a built-in oven and my colleagues chipped in to buy me a KitchenAid stand mixer as a house-warming gift.  And the rest, as they say, is history :D

Celebrating Wesak with Ah Jib Kor!

There was no news in the local dailies about Ah Jib Kor visiting the Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple in Brickfields on Wesak Day that fell on 5 May 2012, so we were kinda surprised he turned up there that day.

We visit this temple each year without fail on Wesak Day and reaching there about 9.30am, we were surprised to see a few VVIP (YB Raja Nong Chik, YB Leow Teong Lai, YB Koh Tsu Koon) at the start of the road leading to the temple.  Lots of policemen too.  So we knew some big shot was scheduled to arrive soon - but we never expected Ah Jib Kor.    We entered the temple and soon it was confirmed cos his handsome face was splattered across a large backdrop behind the stage. 

This is the closest that I have ever went near a Malaysian Prime Minister.  Hemsem boh?  My mom say he look a bit like matsalleh wor.  Got meh?

Too malas to listen to his speech, so we proceed to do what we came to do - to pray and receive blessings on this special day.    Bryan was excited about the blessed water sprinkles (he thinks its fun) and also queing for his bottle of holy water. 

We are proud of him as this is the very first year he manage to sit down throughout the prayer session.  

He was also very keen to donate money to the temple .. so I offered him to get a balloon with him making a donation into the donation box.  Explained to him what is donation .. hope he understands.

We are on full vegetarian on this special day (except Bryan of course) and very early this morning, I headed off to the wet market at Taman Yulek to get some precooked vegetarian dishes.  They were delish!!!  And cheap - only RM16 for all the below!!

The prawn si beh real!  Tasted so crunchy like real fresh prawns!   Told myself that if the 1st and 15th day of the month (fullmoon) falls on Sat or Sun, sure I will go and tapau this for our meals :)

For dinner, I made a reservations at Kechara Oasis located at Viva Mall.    They were hosting a wedding that evening but we managed to get a table for the 4 of us for an early celebrations of Mothers' Day with my mom.   Food there is really expensive but quality was there.  My mom said - next time go pasar buy that cooked vegetarian meals better lah .. aiyoh, my mom dear mom.