Daring Baker's Challenge April

First of all, let me apologize for being late for the entry (and it’s my first time for DB too, talk about first impression eh?)

But really, between having exams and then cut off from the net for three days, I couldn’t post anything in a while.

So,

Here goes,

This month’s challenge was hosted by Elle and Deborah. A tough one I might say. Through I made a few cheesecakes before, cheesecakes have never been my forte. So when I read that the cheesecake was going to get molded and covered in chocolate, I was both excited and nervous at the same time. Excited because it’s coated in my favorite ingredient of all time; chocolate and nervous as it’s not your normal cheesecake.

I planned the whole thing way early of the month. But as the saying goes, not everything goes as we planned. I just got back from a cousin’s wedding and decided to take a quick nap. When I woke up, I look at my watch and it’s 11.30 pm, one hour before I must pack my bags. Shooot.. I quickly go downstairs and measure the ingredients, mix everything up and pop it into the oven. 35minutes later, the cake was golden and I happily leave it to cool before packing my bag and leaving for my hostel with the cake. It took me some time before I realized that I forgot the chocolate and colored decorations thingy (don’t know what it’s called). Well, suffice to say, I just bought the chocolate on the way but it was clear the cheesecake pops won’t have much décor.

The cake wasn’t even soft from the start, it was firm out of the oven and when it was cooled in the refrigerator, it became even firmer. Initially I wanted to cut it out into small pieces and work it into a ball from there, but it seemed like the cake wasn’t budging at all. Maybe I over measure the flour a bit. I was dumbfounded. I read about something similar happened to another blogger and she put it into a blender/mixer before shaping it into a ball again. However, being in the hostel, I have limited access to the kitchen utensils. I stare at the solid, now cube-like cake for a minute before deciding to go with the dipping. The chocolate hardens pretty fast. it was getting thicker as I was dipping the twelve one. But after a minute in the microwave, it was spreadable and I continued with the other pops.

Overall, the cake had a bit too much flour and cheese making it firm and too cheesy. The whole thing was funny now that I think about it. Racing here and there and forgetting my stuff along the way. I’d have to plan the next challenge better. Through It’d give this recipe another try next week. As my mum always say, “you have to keep on trying the recipe until you got it just right!”

Just Knock Me Off

Huhu.. haven't been updating again have I?

well, right now, I'm considering to turn this blog into a full fledge no nonsense baking/ food blog. How does that sound? of course, I'll only be posting on weekends as thats the only time I can bake or cook and take pictures.




the last two weeks;
baked sugee biscuits and almond rings

the last call

tried one recipe from Don Yong, but I failed miserably!! God!! I have never encounter any problem baking bread before and this is my first time baking a 'bantat' bread. sheesh..

the rock hard carrot and honey bread

so anyway,
I have loads of overdue reports to be done, and thousands of recipes to try (hehehe)





p/s: I don't have any of the sugee biscuits pictures as it was finnished as soon as it was done!! even the ones I brought back

New Toy to Play With!!

so,

let's forget the endless lament for a moment, and focus more on other things, like cooking! err.. BAKING!!! haha

I got a new oven to play with last saturday. So, being the baking enthusiast that I am (berangan kan?) I baked three things! A cake with some muffins, a pie and a tray of hot buns. Huhuhu.

The new toy! haha

cornflakes banana cake

buttermilk lemon pie

buns

Penat woo! I didn't know I could do that much in a day. Baked them one by one. Sampai sakit pinggang dok tenun pintu oven tuh. hahaha.

I think the oven is great, just that I'll need to adjust the temperature a bit. Lari sikit arr.. Now I have another solid reason to go back every week!! :)

Next Week:
Beefy Lasagna (maybe I'll do a lasagna roll!!)
Sugee Biscuits

-------------------------

owh, btw,

Happy (belated) Birthday to Mr. Solution!! (solution apekah ituh??) hehhe
the cake was actually baked for you tapi tak sampai ke sane, jauh sgt lah.. hahaha... next year la yek? :P

It Was a Fluke, Seriously..

Yesterday, I almost went ballistic. And through I tried to hold it off, some of the smoke managed to escape through when my brain ran away for one measly second. OMG, I was loud. that is, until my frontal lobe starts to gear up again. And to minimize the damage, as per usual, I gave out unproportionate audible sounds to muffle that anger. What was produced was just to stupid to mention here. And it was in the middle of a meeting no less.

how humiliating, I know. (not to mention a complete lack of professionalism)

I sorry for anything said or done out of anger yesterday. It was not you, it's something else.

------------------------

I learned a new word today; ephemeral. Comes from the Greek word meaning 'lasting for one day'. hence it's used to describe anything thats last for a very short time; short-lived; transitory; etc..

apparently placenta is an ephemeral organ (missed that in OnG, hahaha). through it's can also be applied to happiness. It makes sense. Happiness does not last with us humans (wonder if other creatures are happy all their lives :P) what with the constant changes we face as we grow older and older, meeting new people, adapting to new environment and some adventures or misadventures. we have such complex feelings along our lives and it'll still be increasing in it's complexity as we advance through... shoot.. I'm wondering around.

where was I?

ah.. yes, happinesses does not last. and so does relationships. Through it never really ends there. relationships just changes over time. From one thing to another. The only reason people cease to have relationship with another soul is to close their hearts. A defense mechanism, of sort -- I guess.

So,

Even through there's no more we, us, our, ours
or any other pronouns signifying union or pairings
be used between us.
and through platonic friendship never work
in the desired way of the people experimenting it
I'd give a try if thats for the best

Quoting from Juno;
" I'm still in,
if you're still in"


but for now, I'm happy. Probably.

Do you know what's right??

currently listening to: Dar Williams "Mercy of the Fallen"

Dar Williams caught me off guard. Her lyrics and music are so addictive, I actually belt out the whole song without realizing other people are around, haha. ( I tend to shy away from singing in front of people, hehe)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One week left.

And I say that with a myriad of feelings

There have been a lot of things happening within this 2 months period:

I learn to hold back, painfully so, but definitely necessary
Helped some young ones get through, may they lead a blessed life.
Learned a few lessons, which I had been vaguely avoided
Missed; psychologically and important events,
(I'm starting to see the busy life now)
Wanting something real bad, all in due time my dear
Cant wait to go,
Where half-dreams may dream

Let me pass this exam with warna berterbangan

You can do this bebeh~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was called last night
Apparently, it's my turn this year;
to carry the commission
to pay to his devoirs
but I've already settled three years here.
Through the ups and downs.
Slowly building amidst the ruins
Will it be worth,
to start anew?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I bizi, U free
U free, I on call
I free, U bizi
U bizi, I bizi

So,

bile nak free due-due??

Sile Buat Keje Lepas Nie

So,

Today, I kept on being tegur-ed by the lecturers and a hospital specialist. This is a bad day indeed. However, I now know that there is still a lot to be improve on. And I didn't even completed my objectives today.. humph...

Exam dah dekat nie..

**********************************
Originally, the exam was supposedly on this Friday. So my friend arranged an outing to the Selayang Kolam Air Panas to kunun-kunun relieve the stress. However, we just found out the exams will be held next week instead. So now, the supposedly post-exam ronggeng fun is ruined. Now I'm obligated to feel guilty for not studying in the weekends. Exaggerating? maybe. hahaha

Through, the real problem now is, I can't stop thinking about it. Everyday, I'm planning what to bring there. What food to prepare. The menus keep on changing according to my mood. I even thought about it while reading or studying.

I'm so distracted right now. hish...

**********************************

EITS



I have been contemplating about this issue since January. Aaaaaaaaaaaaa~ I wanna gooo!!! But there's an exam the next day!! shoot laa!!

Sape nak temans? huhu (gatal nak pegi jugak)

**********************************

Wow.. while surfing the net for some assignments, I stumbled upon this movie! Fell in love with it right away!! haha.. it combined two of my favorite thing right now; cooking and OnG!! seriously, the trailer was so funny, and the pies have some really funny names. Can't wait for it to come out here.. lalalala...


Synopsis:
A woman trapped in a life from which she dreams of escape, Jenna's secretly hopes to save enough money from her waitressing job to leave her overbearing and controlling husband. She is a sharp, sassy woman with a gift for making unusual pies whose recipes are inspired by the trials, tribulations and circumstances of her life. An unwanted pregnancy changes the course of events giving her an unexpected confidence via letters to her unborn baby.

nak join bleh?? hehhee

I'm going to bring a notebook just to see if I can get a recipe out of it, the pies looked so delicious!! haha (matilah dah start berangan!!)

***************************

One particular lecturer seems to miss me so much lah. He even brought up my name in their reflection. o_0'' tak perlu kott...

Rough Cut

suddenly your shaking with pain, shooting down inside you
and now you're crumbling away, but this isn't like you
it doesn't stop till it breaks down, no you know
you're breathing rocks and your balance goes

and la la la la..
it takes a minute
and la la la la..
it doesn't finish
la la la la..
you're breaking faster
la la la la..
you're nothing after
there's nothing after

your try to make your escape, but the blows keep coming
and as the dust clears away, you start to notice something
each time a piece crashes down into the floor, you're a little lighter than just before

and la la la la..
it takes a minute
and la la la la..
it doesn't finish
la la la la..
you'll see it after
la la la la..
when you look backwards
when you look backwards

and now your eyes shift from negative spaces
to contours that light up this rough cut design
and now you see it, your sculpture in motion
your unfinished art that keeps going, and keeps going
and keeps going, and going, and going, and going...


la la la la la...


Amber Rubarth