Chocolate coated rumballs

I am still working on and perfecting my macarons. I have made several batches so far and not all successful. I have been reducing the sugar content and found the macarons are not holding up.
I made up some choc coated rumballs.

These rumballs I made up in the past with a standard rumball recipe and coating them with choc and striping with white chocolate.

I will be working on another batch of macarons and may add in almond biscottis as a face saver.
At least I know that recipe works.
I will have a mini project of making some choc treats soon.

Lemon cream Macaroons

Finally got the macaroons right. After several dismal failures, I got to know the eggwhites and balance needed to get the macaroons right.
One of the problems I found was the recipes I was using was the wrong mix for what I wanted. Some tricks involved but knew where I was going wrong.
Made a bunch of them and filled them with lemon buttercream.
Will try chocolate and other flavours next. Haha..I am so happy.

Blackforest cake

Made an eggless black forest cake. Three layers of sponge and filled with whipped cream and cherries. I dropped the kirsch as children were going to eat it but also it is hard to find..hehehe.

I think it turned out well, was not too sweet. Made it for the moon festival, though it has nothing to do with moon cakes or the festival. I just like making it.

Hmm let see what will be next.

Cinnamon Scrolls

Made up some cinnamon scrolls.

Green Tea Spiral Pastry

I made this spiral pastry which I thought looked so beautiful. The different layers turned out quite nice. It was not hard to make but from memory the outcome was a little bitter. I added a little too much green tea powder at the time. The pastry was filled with red bean paste.

Pipeworks with a mini cake

Had a light fruit and covered with RTR. After it had hardened, piped some icing.
I first attempted with a shell border and a grapevine design. The icing was too wet and couldn't control it. It didn't turn out the way I wanted,so wipe it off the cake and started again.

Second time round I piped a pearl border. The sides a decorated with a five pointed star and fleur de lis. The upper edge is with a herring bone and topped with hearts.
I feel it turned out much better than my grapevines.

Hugen's First month celebration cake

Hugen's the name of Yvette and Jimmy's new born boy. I decided upon making toy blocks. Originally was going to make three large blocks. I was stopped as I was told they already had some cakes ordered. So I downsized to one larger block and made smaller blocks from the remaining cakes from my 20cm tins.
I baked up a madiera butter cake and layered wit lemon butter cream.
The blocks turned out nice except I few of the corners wasn't quite level. I smoothed out the cake with my cake smoother and then topped the cake with a chocolate bear. The smaller cakes were not as nice. Attempted to cover up as much as I could.
Everyone was surprised the cake was made by myself.
Took about half a day and turned out to the be the centre piece for dessert table. I am happy with the outcome.

Tiffany-like bag cake

Got an order for a birthday cake from a work colleague. She ask whether I could pipe words on a cake, I said yes and she left it at that.
Thinking about it I thought I would give the bag cake a twirl. The inspiration is the Tiffany bag, The difficult part of it was the upper part/lip of the bag which I used tissues to support whilst the icing hardened.
Then the rest was more or less decorations. I made a ribbon gift box and topped the bag with thinned flower paste to look like tissues.
The problem which I am learning from is the side of the cake was rough and that is because I forgot to utilise my smooth tool.
The outcome turned out great for my first bag cake.
The cake itself was a cherry ripe chocolate cake layered with dark chocolate ganache.
I have thoughts of making some chocolate treats now.
In a few days I have to make a 1st month cake for Yvettes new bord Hugen, what should I make..thinking, thinking...

Lindy Smith Workshop

Attended a Lindy Smith Workshop to see a master at work.
It was just wonderful. The little sugarart bags she created was just amazing and inspiring. I can't wait to try these onto a cake.
The techniques and advice she gave is so invaluable. I am so happy with my path.
Must give thanks to my teacher John for organising this event.


OpArt


Some more OpArt


One of little bags






Lindy Smith

Father's day

Father's day has come and gone, this time I decided to make a choc strawberry cake. Funny thing is I am not a fan of strawberry but it is fav'd by other's. Can't force my opinion on to others.
I first made up a choc cake and filled it with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Topped it with choc mouse and fresh whole strawberries.
To finish I got some fresh rose leaves from the garden and painted it with tempered chocolate and finally wrapped it with a strip of chocolate.
Chocolate with strawberries.. What do you think?

Cupcake success

Yay, baked up two batches of cupcakes and brought them to office. From my feedback it was enjoyed by all.
Made up a batch of Lemon and Lime cupcakes topped with lemon lime butter cream. The second batch was a triple chocolate cupcake. Chocolate muffin with choc bits from my belgium chocolate supply and then topped with dark belgium choc ganache piped onto it...Yummm!

Need piping practice

Made two batches of cupcakes, One orange flavour and the other lemon. Thought of going fruity this time.
Also made up two batches of butter cream. But looks like the topping of cream was too thick.
This is what I was told from people trying it out.
I piped the cream but through inexperience I am not familiar with different nozzles types and the cupcakes looked terrible. I thought the flavour was nice. With the lemon cream giving a acidy taste.
Must keep practising. I have few ideas to reduce the cream and still have the cupcake look nice. My mind is thinking towards flowers.
Will wait and see. Got my next class tomorrow night and funny enough the class will involve piping flowers..haha.

Cupcakes, tempering and ganache

Baked up 2 batches of egg less chocolate cupcakes. They are very easy and stay moist for days. It is just wonderful. This was the first time I attempted to temper some chocolate. the tempering was easy enough. My plan was to make mini name plates to put onto the tempered chocolate and have white chocolate writing. Unfortunately the writing part didn't work. The white chocolate just seized up within the nozzle. Will have to see what went wrong.
With the unused tempered chocolate I added in cream and made a batch of ganache to pipe onto the cupcakes. Overall I think it turned out great. At least I have one happy customer.:)



My happy Customer

Another step and another set of techniques

Yipee, got my tools. Just bought myself a 50 set box of piping nozzles from the market and took it too class. And yes my instructor also bought it from the same shop too. Used it to pipe class and was good to see do basket weave and ruffles from the pipe nozzles.
Just need more practice. Will eventually get there.
Got news also this morning my cousin just got proposed by her boyfriend and will have a wedding early next year.
Hmmm. Maybe ready to make a cake by that time. Will just have to see.
Can't wait Cant wait!! Slowly but surely my skills will get there.
Also got another cousin coming from Hong Kong and hopefully he is going to fulfil my shopping list of baking and decorating tools.

First steps

At last, my first night in my adventure. I am right now so into cake decorating. Signed up for a cake decorating class in my area. Six students and the instructor John had a few assistants.
We went through basics of cake decorating, starting with the royal icing and making bags and the different tips used.
It was exhilarating to do a course with such a good teacher.
at the end we saw of flowers the advance students were working on and they were just amazing. Just hope I can get as good as them.
One day I will. Just taking my baby steps first and then we will see how I go. Can't wait for the next class.
Will be looking at buying different piping tips soon. :)

Re-start , new start

It has been a while since I have updated this blog. I am generally not a person who is used to blogging or writing in a diary but here it goes. I am about to start a new adventure and want to put this in words and pictures for memory.
I am happy were I am in my life and about to move forward to something interesting.
Will let you know soon. :)

Suprise gift

Came home last night and greeted by a note on the door. "Welcome home, now the game begins". What is this I think. People inside the house hiding and ready to jump me. I cautiously entered the house and another note with a quiz, this lead to another and then another.
Notes throughout the house, leading to the grand prize neatly hidden in the dryer, a hand made card and a little Buddhist doll from the girls.
So happy last night, so much fun. Thank you and very memorable. You have made my day.

Throw the hat in

Here it goes, threw the hat in last night and will just see how it goes. Going try something new, something different. Will see if it will be the right direction.

Also made some creme brulee. Not sure if successful.
Next with be brownies, I think if they are not picky it will be a winner.

Trying not to think too much of Taiwan, I found if I think about it more then I get more depressed. So my solution it not to think too much about it. Just enjoy my 'single ' life.
What do people say..hmmm... treading water, at least not sinking.
Talking about water, I should get myself in to the pool to practice my swimming.

Korean BBQ

After a great session of rock climbing, did a rush bit of shopping for ingredients for the Korean BBQ at home. Rushed back home tired and quick bit of cleaning before guests arrive.
To my surprise the girls were there cooking up a nice bit of entrees.. Thanks.
Guests came, arms have cooled down from the climb and in a bit of pain and away it went. It was a nice night, when smoothly.
Mum once again always had her ability to ruin a weekend. Next day the girls came by to help with the left over meat that couldn't be finished from the night before. Gave a careless comment to the girls and went. She once again made her mark and upset one of them for the rest of the day.
Tried my best to cheer her up but you know she has been injured. Why she does, I don't know.
This coming weekend is going to be mother's day on Sun, have plans for either rock climbing or hiking up Kinglake Nat Park on Sat. We decide soon, and just hope Mum doesn't throw in the spanner for this weekend.
I am so split in my thinking and don't know what to do. I feel tired and look forward for some rest and just enjoy my life. Why is it like this, why do people think they way they think and say the things they say. Is it me who is the one that thinks incorrectly. It would be great if there was a book with all the answers.