Jamie Oliver's Classic Victoria Sponge

26 Feb 11

Auntie YC gave me this copy of Jamie Oliver's "Cook with Jamie" cookbook. I had not tried any recipe from the book.

Today is Auntie YC's birthday. We invited her for her favourite seafood dinner, in particular, sweet and spicy crab from Restaurant Wong Poh.

Jared's school exam is around the corner. I need to do exam revision with Jared and I usually run errands on Saturday too. However, I knew I should bake a cake for Auntie YC's birthday, a simple cake. It is only complete to have a birthday cake to blow candles for birthday celebration.

Lately, I've fallen in love with layers cake, not the traditional Indonesian layer cake but cake being assemble in layers with whipping cream in between the cake layers.

I made this Classic Victoria sponge cake from Jamie Oliver's cookbook. I baked the sponge cake in the morning and assembled the cake in the evening, after our seafood dinner.

The results ... the cake on the top is done by me and the one at the bottom is picture from Jamie Oliver's book.

Auntie YC and Hubby love the cake. They were very impressed with the results for this first attempt, just by following instructions from the book.

Red Velvet Cheesecake, my first cake business on Valentine's Day

14 Feb 2011

It is Valentine's Day. I baked a cake, not for my Hubby but for my very first cake order that I get paid for. This is a milestone achievement for me!

I made Pavlova and Red Velvet Cheesecake for Hubby's last birthday in August 2010. I invited Audrey and family over for tea but they were too busy with their house moving. The following day, Hubby and I decided to bring some slices of Red Velvet Cheesecake to their house instead as we would love to peep into their new house. A few days later, Audrey told me they love my Red Velvet Cheesecake.

Two weeks later, she ordered the same cake from me for her party at their new house and wanted to pay for it. Audrey has been a good friend of us, especially during the period that we were in between maid ... she cooked for us and took care of our kids when we needed help!

I was happy to receive my very first "official" cake order and gladly made the cake for her. I made it for her complimentary as appreciation for her help during the period that we needed help the most. Baking is suppose to be a good stress reliever but not for this particular one, it was stressful. What if the cake does not turn out well? What if the taste is not as nice? Audrey will not have cake for her party then ....

At almost midnight, Audrey sent me a sms after her party ... the cake was a hit. Her guests love it! Knowing the positive respond was a BIG relief for me and boost my confidence.

A few days ago, Audrey sent me another sms. This time round the sms "I got u accidentally involved in a cake business". Her friend asked if I can make the same Red Velvet Cheesecake for her daughter's birthday. This friend of Audrey has tasted my cake during Audrey's party. I was very happy to know that people remember my cake. Despite Tuesday being a public holiday, I have friends coming to our house for lunch and tea and I will be too tired to bake cake thereafter. I told Hubby about it and he supported the idea, not for the money, but for the baking passion that I have and bake for those who know how to appreciate them. Hubby also advised me to take the first step which may bring many other steps.

I baked the Red Velvet Cheesecake a day earlier, on Monday instead as I am not working. I took a day off to rest after our trip to Kluang over the weekend. I also need to prepare for CNY lunch and tea gatherings at our house the following day.

I learnt to bake this Red Velvet Cheesecake from Catherine Lau. I must thank Christina for inviting me to attend the Cheesecake workshop at Signature Kitchen organised by Flavours. The cake is made from buttermilk, beetroot juice (which is a healthy fruit and give the red colour to the cake), cocoa powder, vegetable oil, cream cheese, whipping cream, etc.

For the record to treasure the memories ... the perceived value by Audrey for the Red Velvet Cheesecake is RM110. Keep the fingers cross. I hope they will still like the cake as much.

Jared's First Sport Shoes

20 Jan 11

One of our 2011 new year resolution is to stay healthy. We ... as a family, has started jogging. We jogged around our house garden, at Desa Parkcity park, etc. From this jogging exercise, Hubby realized that Jared can run, has good stamina and run at constant pace too.

Auntie YC wanted to buy new year gift for Jared and Jaden. She bought toys for both of them ... and also this pair of Nike running shoes.

This pair of Nike's Air Pegasus+ 26 comes with full length, soft air cushioning so that our heel and forefoot are fully supported for any running distance.

I can't believe Jared is wearing adult size shoes now. His first running shoes cost his grand auntie RM199.

Segamat Flood

1 Feb 2011

After the bad flood experience in 2006, Segamat is hit with another flood. This time round, it is during the peak traffic, rush travelling, going back hometown for Chinese New Year celebration.

Lots of people are affected by the roads not accessible, cancelled and reschedules train services, landslides, etc.

We are not sparred too. We were suppose to travel South to Segamat to my in-laws house for CNY reunion. We are on standby, look see mode now.

I am so proud of my brother in-law for the job well done on his segamat.com. His website was mentioned on The Star today under "Segamat flood updates on Facebook". He updates the flood situation in Segamat, roads accessibility, etc with photos taken and uploaded on a close interval basis.

There is no electricity and water supply in Segamat due to the flood. Telephone line is down too. Those people with handphone would have their battery running low and flat by now. As such, a lot of peoples are unable to stay connected with their family in Segamat. My brother in-law is very resourceful. He seems to know a lot of people in Segamat and able to link and keep the visitors to his website updated on family and friends condition.

He has done a fantastic job. That site probably has the highest hit in the last few days for those who planned to head South to be united with family for CNY reunion.

Well done, Jin and keep up the good work of sharing and caring. We are so proud of you.