Blackforest Cheese cake

Aisyah ordered a cheese cake from me last week without specifying what cake she would like to have..She said.. any cheesecake that I was able to make and as long as it is 'nyaman' (delicious).. So I bake her a blackforest cheesecake..This was my 2nd attempt after Amy's order..

I top up the cheesecake with red seedless grapes, kiwis and again mandarin slices, as well as the chocolate that Aisyah reminded me to add it in...and encircled with blue ribbons... I am into ribbons recently as well...hahah...This cake was for Hari Aidiladha..so she gonna share it with her family...

After few hours as I always do.. I sms Aisyah for the feedback of the cake and she commented ' OMG.. I really like the cake..tq so much.. Deco..Perfect!!...' Wow.. so happy...this comment really have boosted me up a lots and I was speechless!! and smiles are on my face for the whole day!! Thanks Aisyah...

Apple Raspbery Cheesecake For Khalid

Last Ramadhan, I baked an apple raspberry cheesecake as a trial and I shared it with my colleauges and last week, Yusrina ordered this cheesecake for her boyfriend birthday on 22nd Nov.

I gave this cake an extra oommphh of cream cheese and less sugar...because the apple raspberry fillings are bit sweet and slightly sour to my taste. Initially this cake is pinky in colour but...this cake is for her BF.. (I assume that her BF don't like pink cake!!) ... so I cover it up with fresh cream , side with one of my favourite orange tang flavour chocolate and topped it up with mandarin slices, grapes and red cherries!! Recently.. I love to use mandarin slices because I myself is in love with its juiciness and sweetness.. Just love it!! So You will find it in most of my cakes!!ahahah

Yusrina commented that the cake is PERFECT!! (but still i cannot kambang..mesti got room to improve!!) for everyone in the house, not sweet and the family finish all the cake.. (which is a good news!!!) Her Bf also like the card I made for him and Yusrina said her BF was impressed with my creativity....

OOHH my gosh.. I am so touch and Happy to receive her comments as it was such a great compliment for me...I remembered I could even smile in my dream!!! Thanks Yusrina for your support and comments!! I am glad this is such a happy ending!! You happy... I pun happy...

Tiramisu

Siti Fatimah, my informal part time art teacher ordered Tiramisu for her birthday last week;21st Nov. She ordered 10 cups and I free her another small one as a gift from me. I also handmade a card for her. As I know she was busy dancing for the annual dinner.. so I made a sexy lady dancing on her birthday card..

She commented that the tiramisu taste cheesy and creamy and not so strong coffee aroma..and she love the card, leaving her friends jealous..hahah..

I am glad to have her comments as it is a bridge for my improvement in baking... Thanks Ckg Fatimah..

Cocktail Cheesecake

My colleauges ordered cocktail cheesecake from me last two weeks after showing them the picture of Estella birthday cake....

It is the same cocktail cheesecake as Estella's one..just that for my colleauges I top it up with mandarin slices, fresh grapes, strawberries and blueberries!! The fruit toppings may not be the same all the time because this is Brunei and KB..Not everytime you drop by Supa Save.. you will find those fresh berries!!! Depends on your luck though!!

I personally do like the 'look' of my cake...hahah.. and my colleauges.. they all love it!! Thanks ladies!!!

Chocolate Terrine

My boss bought me an Easy Baking cake cookbook during his last trip. Went through most of the recipes and types of baking, it indeed looks simple. So my 1st assignment from that book is Chocolate terrine. The velvety texture from the picture shown attracts me the most!!

The first attempt in baking the cake already got me wasted with 400g of chocolate..But not to give up..I melted another 400g of chocolate and continue with the process...Not so lucky, because I misunderstand the term used in the book..Bain Marie...Instead of steam-baking the cake, I bake it straight away...When done, I took the first bite and it was super sweet so I left it on the table till the next day, Try again.. not that sweet compare to last night...
So, I cut all the cake and share it with my colleuges and friends..do not waste food.... to my surprise.. They all like the cake!!!

2 days later, I try again baking the cake, remembering the mistakes I made from previous attempt..Took me nearly 1hour 45 minutes instead of 1 hour 15 minutes.. may be my oven is too old!!hahah.. And.. tadaa...I love the cake but still I need to improve on its appearance....May be because I used dark chocolate instead of plain chocolate!!

Cocktail Cheesecake for Estella

Got an order from Estella last week for her 1st year wedding anniversary and birthday. She would like to have a cocktail cheesecake with special request that the cake will not be sweet and strictly no Kiwis!!

Decorated the cake with Red DragonFruits, mandarin and grapes...

So, I baked her a nearly 5lbs cocktail cheesecake with slight lemon twist and decorated with red dragonfruit, grapes and mandarin slices!! I also did 2 handmade cards for her; one for her birthday and one for her wedding anniversary...

I was glad and happy that she loves the card and the feedback from her for my cake was indeed positive and motivating me!! She commented that the cake is not sweet and very nice. It was also the first time that the family was able to finish the whole cake in a short while!! Such a motivating comment for me.. Thanks Estella....

Cocktail Cheesecake

The first cheesecake that I learnt to bake many years ago...and it is still a hit in the family.. I used Hobnobs and Digestives as my cake base and layer.. I personally prefer two layers because I love Digestives and at the same time, the biscuits are able to slightly balance off the thick cheese!!

Cocktail Cheesecake

This time I baked a big one weighing nearly 2.5kg!! I did not put too much gelatine in it coz I could not stand the beefy smell of the gelatine!! Should look for alternative gelatine and my colleuge suggested me to use the jelly powder!! A good way though...

Even I said I did not add much gelatine in it... that doesn't mean this cheesecake can't hold it shape...but still if you leave it outside the refrigerator for quite sometime, it will slightly like melting... Most chilled cheesecakes are like that!! Unless you put lots of gelatine and the texture of creaminess is lost!!

Left in the room for about 15minutes.....

As for most of my chilled cheesecake, the texture is more to creamy and soft...not to that point of dripping cream!! As you can see, if you want your chilled cheesecake to be harder.. you add more gelatine...less gelatine will be more creamy...it actually depends on individual likes!!

For my cheesecake, if you take it out from the refrigerator, it is presentable and texture is fine!!! who is going to eat warm cheesecake???hahaha

Tiramisu

Have been browsing through several references of making Tiramisu online and on books, buying few sample tiramisu from some bakery to try out...some investment needed... and finally I gathered all the ingredients that needed to make this Italian dessert, Tiramisu. This is my first trial and it is a Halal version of Tiramisu with no eggs involved. So, it is not really consider the original Tiramisu, but My own way of tiramisu..

Tiramisu

Layered with Saviordi sponge fingers soaked with Expresso coffee and Mascarpone cheese in cute cup and then sprinkled with some cocoa powder on top.....So everyone will have their individual cup, no fighting...hahahah..

Let my food critics to try and most of them love the taste of my Tiramisu and gave me quite good comments. But, I dare to say that my tiramisu taste much better than one of the bakery in the town where I got most of my supplies from...oppsss... Despite this, I will still need to improve by trying out alternative recipes...involving in eggs and may be some Kahlua!!

Lesson learnt

October was not a smooth month for me.. and only in this week.. I was slapped by two persons' words for thoughts!!'. It was good to have someone to give you some words for thought once in a while.. though those words may make you feel uneasy ..feed bad...but in long term.. it sure brings out the best in you..all depends on how our little and yet powerful brain!!

"Why do you always like to talk until the whole world had done something bad to you??"
This statement helps me to reflect the way and style I talk to someone during a conversation and is it true that the way I think is too perspective?? Too narrow or negative?? Hmm.. got to be beware of it..She said I have to be more positive in my thinking!! For me, I will think that it is good to think positively but to what extent can a person think and act positively if something had happened??? A person who only think positive is a person who do not dare to face the reality!! In reality.. there is always pros and cons!! For me, We should learn to find positive thoughts in every matters!!!

'Talk less, mind your own business,look at yourself before you talk about others,what goes around comes around"
This statement had a real impact on me..OKie.. I agree I have to learn to talk less and minding my own business more....So this will be my focus for this month...
It is true that we got to mind our own business, but if there is no one minding your business, you will find that you actually will miss out something!!
I always agree that 'The mouth is the most dangerous part of the body!!' It is true indeed.... But, the mouth is on people's body, you can't stop and prevent people's talking.. but you have the choice to accept it or not!!
A person who cannot accept people's criticism is difficult to have self improvement!! Hence I open my ears and arms to welcome all criticism on me!!
Do you ever wonder why people will have comments on someone??

Almonds Devil's Food

I always have some problems when baking chocolate cake using any recipe from the internet..it is either too dry or hard and it does not taste to my expectations!! Is it because of the recipe or is it because of the way i melt my chocolate???

Almonds Devil's Food

Anyway, I have always been very supporting and love Betty Crocker ready mix flour! Believe me, I can never make mistakes with the flour, the cake or anyting!! I had tried all the different flavours ready mix flour, many different brands...and my conclusion is ..All types of Betty Crocker ready mix flours are wonderful!!! The taste is just wonderful, not sweet at all and the texture is perfect!! I just love Betty Crocker!! But....It is very hard to get the ready mix flour in Supa save nowadays!! Got to depend on your luck!!!

Perfect Moisture texture

I borrowed a cookbook from the library yesterday and came across this butter icing...thought of may be I can give it a try on my cupcakes. To make Vanilla Butter icing, all you need is 200g of sifted icing sugar, 60g of butter and 2 tablespoon of boiling water and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla essense and colours of your choice. All you need to do is mix everything together and then put the colours you like and then into the piping bag and deco!!

Trying out with the vanilla butter icing - Result: I don't like it at all!!!

I tested the vanilla butter icing..OMGoosshh... it is so sweet!! Put into the piping bag and try out on my cup cakes!! It look awful...okie I admit my drawing skills but the butter icing looks like it is melting and the texture does not seem normal to me....it look a bit disgust to me ..hahahah.. so in the end..I wiped off all the butter icing on my cupcakes!! And when it comes to washing...Eeewww.. my hands were very oily and smell of butter.....eeewww.. I just don't like it..hence..very rare there will be a second chance I will this vanilla butter icing on my cake.... May be I will use cream frosting or chocolate ganache instead!!

Blackforest Cheese cake

Would like to thank my gal buddy for trusting me to bake her sister birthday cake last Thursday,22nd Oct. She choose to have Blackforest Cheesecake with less cream - meaning less butter cream for the deco!! In fact, I actually felt sorry as I still could not master the skills on cake decorations! Hence I could only decorate it with fruits which are more healthier!!

Blackforest Cheese cake (Biscuit crumbs base)

I personally is not fond of butter icing, butter cream..those colourings..I know it is more eye catching with colours!! so you would not actually find it in those cakes that I baked!! But, if there is a chance for me to attend any of cake decorations workshop... I am sure I would be able to do some basic decorations ONE DAY!! Be it with with those frostings, icings or cream with colours!!

I am also interested in paper craftings recently...well.. still a beginner though in it.. and have spent hundred of dollars in buying those magazine and materials!! Handmade card's materials are not cheap!!!! Really not cheap!!! so I made a birthday card for Amy..the birthday gal.. the card look simple right?? But, it took me an hour to make it!!! Well... I hope she like it!!

At the same time, my regular cake-eater requested a blackforest fresh cream cake..so I bake one for him....initially would like to use chocolate shavings to decorate the cake to make it look classy..after done.. it looks quite 'dark'.. and I saw a packet of flower marshmallows which I bought quite sometime ago but still not expired yet... Then I add the marshmallows here and there.. and in the end.. it looks bit kiddy but eye catching....ahahah...

Blackforest Fresh Cream cake

Blueberry Muffins

Downloaded an easy to follow steps of baking blueberry muffins from the internet and tried it out and Voila....It is delicious!!!

As there is no fresh blueberries in my country, and you can only find those frozen berries in the supermarket.. hence I used the blueberry fillings!! The end result is not bad!!!

Blueberry Muffins

Look at the texture...this is absolutely delicious!! Great for morning and afternoon tea time!!

Yea.. I always insist trying to use fresh ingredients.. but what to do?? I couldn't find the fresh blueberries..!! Ohhh no...once in a while you may find in the supa save but that's costly!! if you count..may be about 50 blueberries and it cost you $14!!! wowooo.. way to expensive.. but i believe the taste would be great!!

Hershey Truffle Blueberry Muffins

In each blueberry muffins, there is one Hershey Truffles in it!! Will taste a bit sweet when you reach the Hershey!!

May be you can try to bake your own muffins! Be creative in baking!!Have fun trying out!!

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition) -adapted from All Recipes.com
1/2 cup butter
1 1/4 cups white sugar (I used 1 cup)
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk
2 1/2 cups fresh blueberries (I used the blueberry fillings-so I do not mash the blueberries)
I also added a pinch of nutmeg

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour muffin pans or use paper liners.
In a large bowl, cream butter and 1 1/4cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and mix in.
Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour mixture, alternating with milk. Mash 1/2 cup berries and stir into batter. Fold in remaining berries.
Fill muffin cups and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and wait 20 minutes to remove from pans.

My muffins are almost done in 20minutes. Check with inserting the skewer into the muffins, if it comes out clean, then it is done.

Apple Raspberry Cheesecake

Trying to create a bell shape cake and conclusion was..It is not easy!! Still need lots of practice in it...This cake is covered up with raspberry cream cheese as well and top up with fresh black cherries!!

There is no colourings used in this cake and the pink colour actually comes from the raspberry syrup itself. Taste is unique, the little sour taste from the raspberry is able to mix well with the little saltiness of the cream cheese and it is not sweet at all !!

Okie .. I agree with my layering skills.. not perfect!! Still need to practice!! No wonder the quote said ' Practice makes Perfect!!!'.. But no worries.. taste is great!!!

This cake was ordered by Johnny and he gave a supportive comment with its unique taste despite the not so good deco. I am not really good in deco with either butter cream or butter icing or fondant.. but I will learn one day... In fact .. I would personally prefer that the cake is deco or top up with fresh fruits and it is always better than with those creamy stuff...May be.. I personally do not like those cream.. I always wipe the cream off my cake!!!

I used fresh kiwi seeds to create this effects..

Fresh Mango Cheesecake

Since my last year vacation to Hong Kong having a Mango Pudding Desserts @ GoldFish Market when it was still having it Typhoon 5, I have been craving and crazy with Mango!!! Everywhere I went for desserts, I will ask for anything that is with Mango!!

So few months ago, it was mango season, I got lots of mango stucked in the fridge! So I decided to bake some Real Fresh Mango Cheesecake, be it with the biscuit crumbs base or the sandwich sponge cake...I baked it all!! I even baked a mango cheesecake for my colleuege, Yappy and also for my own birthday cake!! Well... What to do..lonely lady is like that...hahaha

Decorate and top up the tops with all fresh fruits!!! Now you choose, Deco with fruits or you wanna have to deco it with icing and colours???

Fresh Mango Cheesecake ( biscuit crumbs based) -I used about 8 pcs of mangoes and real fresh mango puree in this cake!!! Fresh mango puree is really the 'oommpphh' power to this cake...

This was specially baked for Yappy on her birthday!! I think the two fresh black cherries were the first to vanish and causes someone who hunting for cherries in the market!! Till today, I could not find any fresh black cherries in the supermarket!!!

This was again specially baked for my little sis ( she look little in size only) as her good luck cake to wish her all the best in her studies in UBD. But she said it was to celebrate her for leaving home for the first time and I finally got the bedroom all to myself.. welll...any reasons will do for me.. as long as she is happy with it!!!

My sponge cake is getting better.. I love my sponge cake more due to the texture and the 'closeness' of it.. Unlike those normal spongecake u bought form the bakery. it is too 'hollow' and empty ...Okie I may agree with you on my leveling of the spongecake...I did not level up my cake well and cut off the excess height and straight I slice the cake into three layers!! I did it on purpose because I do not want to waste food!! It is a sin to throw food that you can eat and especially this yummy sponge cake!!!

Quite simple and yet delicious mango cheesecake for my birthday!!!

After uploading some cakes pictures on facebook, my friend Adeline wanna order a mango cheesecake for home consume. So I baked a 3 lbs less sugar mango cheesecake for her. But not for her to worry, coz all the sweetness of this cake naturally come from the mango itself and so do the colours!!! No colouring is used in my cake!! So no worries about that colouring that may harm your kidney!!!

Adeline gave me quite good comments for this cake and I was glad that she loves this cakes! thanks for you support my dear....

As these cakes are using fresh fruits, no preservatives are added, it is best to be consume as soon as possible!! Preferably within 5 to 6 days to get the best from it!! And I can guarentee you with the mango aroma when you open the cakebox if you are using the 'Loo Soon' Type of mango!!

Blackforest Fresh CreamCake

This was my another attempt to bake a blackforest cake after a 'disappointed event' of blackforest cake...Well.. I myself was not quite satisfy with the deco itself this time.. but who cares..my theme is ' I may be ugly but I am nice inside!!'.

Three quarters of this blackforest cake vanished in 15 minutes by four teens ( 2 boy and 2 girls), each coming back for a second slice... Kids don't lie and they are honest...words and together with actions!! So.. their actions had told me how success this cake was!!! Thanks kids!!!

I Love almond flakes... that's y it is on the cake!!!

Blackforest Fresh Cream cake

Mars Cheesecake

I tried to bake this Mars Cheesecake last nite and it was good with its creamy texture. This was my first attempt in baking this cake and of course.. still plenty of room for me to improve!!! either on its look or taste!!

This cheesecake was bit creamy as I did not put as much gelatine as it required because I personally prefer bit creamy cheesecake...I would say it is a bit sweet.. well all mars chocolate are very sweet!!! but I tried to balance it with the saltiness of the cheese and the sweetness of the chocolate.. so it was fine.. just as I wasn't a sweet eater!!! But definitely and I assured you, you will sure want to have a second slice of it!!!!

Mars Cheesecake

Cheesy Cheesecake

This classic cheesy cheesecake is an all time favourite. I remembered my mum used to order this cheesecake from her friend and it cost $30 for just simple two layers. My uni frens love to bake this cake and it really was a hit that time...

So I got the recipe and downloaded some new recipe and of course studying, editing and experimenting and finally I got my version of cheesy cheesecake!!

Most of the time I will learn to bake a cake specially for that person and this one is especially learnt for my mum!! But so sad.. she never satisfy with my cake and always give me negative comment!! Wonder it is to boost my self esteem or she can no longer buy from her friend!!!! haha...

Cheesy Cheesecake

Gift From Janet

Nowadays, you can see lots of people stop by the roadside to buy durians, 'tarap' and rambutans.. I love to eat all of those but I couldn't accept the offer of having 'tarap' in my workplace yesterday but only to smell it... This is because I start to feel the itchiness of my throat..haaaa..coughing!!

This morning when i woke up... daaaa.. feeling very cold, head bit heavy, throat itchy n doomed!!!! I am sick!!!! That's mean I gotcha cancel my plan of baking a fruity cheesecake!! and I can't eat the durians..the orange and strong smell spiky small durian!!! The durian king!!!!
So to get myself recover faster, i asked my mum to 'guat sa' me.. the chinese traditional way of healing.. My friends alway said me crazy of doing that and I may get addicted!!! Well.. it is still better of taking drugs...and I would not said it is addicted!! I should say it is effective and one can see the instant result and that's why one would like it more once they are used to 'guat sa'..hahha

So.. I read a book borrowed by Janet.. My lovely colleuege..a book named Desserts that she bought from HK!! In fact, she said she present it to me.. so touch and felt quite bad .. coz..initally she said she borrowed to me but turns up to be a present from her.. anyway.. Thanks Janet!! I love you.. i will surely try some of the recipe in it for you.....

Blackforest Cake

Last September, I thought of baking other types of cakes apart from my usual cheesecake..as my budget was tight due to buying cheese and I couldn't find any sponsor for my cheese supply..hehe

So, as I surf the internet, I came across Blackforest cake..so..survey and survey...recipe is not that difficult..so decision made...Blackforest Cake... No cheese...

So I baked one for my younger sister's Birthday, it looks fine with me.. taste good..no cheese, fresh cream and I use Black cherries for the filling. Well...No fresh black cherries in Brunei, if you lucky to find some, it would be super expensive!!! Ever bought some frozen cherries but I don't like the texture.... Anyway, this was my first attempt...

After posting it up on facebook....not to show off.. but is to share...someone ordered a blackforest cake but with the following changes made to the cake

1. Would not like to have too much fresh cream and want to have it with lots of cream cheese.

2. Would not like a biscuit base despite my advice and want to have sponge cake and sandwich it with the cream cheese and the cherries.

3. Would like some of the cherries juice ( syrup) to be absorbed onto the sponge cake.

Sounds like a customize blackforest cheesecake yeah... I did mentioned to him that the cake would taste better with the biscuit base but he insist to have done it that (his) way.. Okie fine with me.. and this was one of my mistakes!!! I should have to be more persistant in my style of baking and not customize for people.

I was satisfied with the 'looks' of the cake but he commented my deco for the cake as 6/10. ...he said he ate a small slice and for the taste wise was so so and he was surprised that the cake looks grey colour.. which was impossible.. and he said he was disappointed with the taste and my skills!!!! So.. whose fault was this? It must have been me who was not persistent enuough????!!! and guess what!! This was not the worst!!! The next day, he messaged me and questioned whether I used clean knife to cut the cake as he was being diagnosed with severe food poisoning and was given a shot on his tummy.. as his doctor would like to trace the source why he got food poisoning (I wonder which doc he went to!!!)..is it whether the curry he ate for lunch??during his tea time?? or that tiny slice of my cake??

Of course, I was not happy with his suspicious on my cake but at the same time i felt bad too if it was my cake!!! and he told me he had dumped the cake into the dustbin just for safety!!!! Till today,I still got that terrible feeling, unhappy, angry, suspicious... that my confidence in baking, my time, my dedication was dumped into the bin just like that!!!! I still start to wonder and suspect whether he did that for purpose or whatsoever after I heard so many comments about him..hmmmm...all I can said was I really get a big blow on my confidence and slap on my face and I guess..that will be the last cake he will got from me!!!! What got on my nerve more was that, the second message he sent was he hoped that his first message did not spoiled my holiday mood!!! What The H***????

A month later, which was last week, one of my friend would like to order a Blackforest cake with me and no cheese so it should have been something that look like my sister's cake.. so I baked one yesterday to try out again.. and voila.. this time I did not really do much deco, as it was self consume and I let some of my students to try it! Kids never lie isn't it??? They loved cakes and it they did come back for second slice...that's mean they love the cake!!! So I made them as my food critics.. and taaadaaaa.. all came back for second slice and within 15 minutes i only left a quarter of the 8 inches wide and 3 layer high cake for my sister to try!!!!

My sister's Birthday Blackforest Cake

My sister's Birthday Blackforest Cake - 1st Attempt

The 'Failed' Blackforest Cheesecake