I'm happy and upset and all mixed up

Why is America still voting to keep Sanjaya around in the American Idol? He obviously cant sing, does not look cute (In fact I think he has a chipmuck look!) ? I'm beginning to find him a joke, a big fat sad joke. *sigh* I though only Singapore suffered from such a fate when the silly school girls voted for their favourite guy in such competition. What has happened to this being a singing contest? I'm disappointed to see the good ones leave the show. (Screams, INJUSTICE!)




Enough about Sanjaya..
I'm happy, H-A-P-P-Y, happy. Check out my latest buy, a Fossil watch :) Pretty eh. My colleague insisted it was a damn nice watch and that I MUST buy it. I think she does a better job at promoting this watch than the promoter. And so I did!
Upset, happy and now mixed feelings..

Easter Bunny Cookies













Aren't they adorable? So the key to making cookies that will fly off the shelf lies in the decoration. I have to admit that these bunny cookies of mine are not that quite ready for sale. But with more icing, with more practice, I can almost see that happening.

So care for some easter bunny cookies anyone?

Cupcake and cookies for sale

Wonder when I can master baking so good that I can start a business of my own. So far, the chocolate chip cupcakes were not bad. And it's on to cookies this weekend. Easter bunny cookies. If they turn out good, I may bake them for breakfast counter for my church building fund.

I'm so impressed by what you can do with baking and what decoration can do to make them look so pretty! I want to bake pretty cupcakes and cookies too.

More shopping this weekend to start baking

List of Kitchen Baking Essentials (As claim by some)
1) Measuring cups (for dry ingredients-plastic or stainless steel)
2) Measuring cups for liquid ingredients (such as pyrex glass or plastic)
3) One set of measuring spoons (plastic or metal)
4)A set of different size mixing bowls (small, medium, large, and extra large)
5) One round and one oblong or rectangular cooling rack
6) Rolling Pin
7) Rubber spatula's (silicone ones are good because they can be used in high temperatures, and may be washed in the dishwasher) Also, metal spatula's for removing baked goods from pans
8) Either a wood or marble pastry board for rolling out your pie, tart or pastry dough
9) An offset spatula for decorating and frosting cakes, pastries and cupcakes, etc
10) Two or three pastry brushes
11) Pastry blender (what's this?)
12) Fluted or plain pastry wheel (not going into pastry yet)
13) Pastry bags, and assorted size and shape pastry tips (do I need them for cupcakes?)
14) Flour sifter
15) Dough or pastry scraper (not going into pastry yet)
16) 9 piece set of glass bowls (graduating sizes of mixing bowls for preparing ingredients for recipe) (9 pieces??)
17) Metal or wood cake testers (don't you test by just trying?)
18) Assorted cookie cutters in different sizes and shapes. 2 and 3 inch round biscuit cutters are good to have for cutting out biscuits, scones, etc. (I love this part :))
19) Cookie press (not the same as cookie cutter? )
20) Variety of food colors for tinting (either liquid or paste food colorings)
21) Pudding mold (Pudding is not my thing)
22) Pie crust shields and Ceramic Pie weights (No pies yet too)
23). A good pair of kitchen scissors and a good set of kitchen knives. (Bread, and cake knives are important to have if you are going to be making cakes and breads) Not advanced to cakes yet
24) Oven mitts (very important) (I have them already)
25) Aluminum foil, Parchment baking paper, waxed paper, and plastic cling wrap
26). A variety of flavorings and extracts (essences)
27). At least one or two whisks, one being a balloon whisk (the balloon whisk shape is especially good for whipping egg whites and heavy cream, when you need the maximum amount of air)
28). A kitchen timer

I'm bring Alexis shopping with me.

Attempt at baking and cooking this weekend

I bought a book titled Japanese women don't get old or fat after personally witnessing the beauty of them in the land of the rising sun. So hopefully this book lets me in on some of the Japanese women secrets. Actually they are some that are already known, how they drink green tea (antioxidants and boosts the metabolic rate!), the small portions they eat, the only eat till you're 80% full rule, etc.

So it's down to some Japanese cuisine this weekend. I intend to cook soba, miso soup and tempura ... Quite an attempt! Hope this will not be the last too.

And after more reading on baking, I shall embark on my first attempt to bake!And the first recipe shall be Oatmeal-Raisin Cookie Cupcakes.

Oatmeal-Raisin Cookie Cupcakes

• 3 3/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup oat bran
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 4 large eggs
  
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups raisins
• 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Line 3 standard 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners; set aside. Whisk 2 cups oats, the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, bran, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; set aside.

2. Put butter and sugars into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Mix in eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture, and mix until just combined. Mix in sour cream. Stir in raisins with a rubber spatula.

3. Transfer 2 3/4 cups batter to a small bowl, and stir in remaining 1 3/4 cups oats and the coconut; set aside. Spoon 2 1/2 tablespoons plain batter into each prepared muffin cup; top with 1 1/2 tablespoons oatcoconut batter. Bake until golden and a cake tester inserted into centers comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to wire racks; let cool completely. Cupcakes can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 3 days.

Hopefully it will turn out like this =)

PS: Why do you need sour cream in a cupcake recipe?

Playing with a thought

Just having time to myself these days makes me wonder what life would be like if I stopped working. You know how the government has projected a population of 6.5m in the next 40- 50 years. That raised questions on how the government is supporting this target. While there have been baby bonuses handed out to lighten the financial costs of raising a family, the more vital question is how to bring up a child without being absent in their growing years. I don't think I'm ready for a child now, because the way I work already leaves me with little time for my family. I really cant imagine how life will be so different when it's a baby who will require attention 24/7. I would consider stop working in my child's most vital years to make sure that I spend time with my child, to pass on values and be the one to hear their first word...

Then I had a crazy creative idea. I could embark on a job that I can work from home, something like baking! I recently got interested in baking though I have not gotten down to trying it out yet. I have came across websites and articles and people who have been ordering customized cakes, cupcakes, etc. so it seems there is a market for this business of customization. So I started my research online and found some options for me to take this to another level. I've a feeling I could do this, yeah like as a job.

So first, I would have to learn to start baking!
Already on my birthday wishlist are these books
1. 500 Cupcakes: The Only Cupcake Compendium You'll Ever Need
2. Cupcakes Year-Round: 50 Recipes for Every Season and Celebration
3. 500 Cookies: The Only Cookie Compendium You'll Ever Need
4. 125 Best Cupcake Recipes
5. Biggest Book of Cookies: 475 All-Time Favorites
6. Crazy About Cupcakes
7. Super-Duper Cupcakes: Kids' Creations from the Cupcake Caboose
8. Cupcakes Galore
9. The Flour Pot Cookie Book: Creating Edible Works of Art
10. The Confetti Cakes Cookbook: Spectacular Cookies, Cakes, and Cupcakes from New York City's Famed Bakery

Another thing to add on my to do list for the weekend- bake cupcakes

Here are some inspirations to keep me inspired.

More food reviews as promised

I'm such a cheat. I didn't even do these reviews, just plucked them from what I've read. Anyway, when you're sick perhaps the only consolation is that food just taste blah and I'm hoping against all hope that it will make me lighter.

But anyway, back to my recommendation...Have you ever heard of the Rabbit brand sharkin? I bet you thought Rabbit brand only sold white milk candies wrapped in the paper like plastic that melts in your mouth. They do.. but more than that they've got sharkin, bird's nest and now seafood! Rabbit Brand Seafood Restaurant is where I wanna go for baked crab with cream sauce.
RABBIT BRAND SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
325/327 Joo Chiat Road, Tel: 6348-8772
Open: 6pm to 4am daily
Food:
Service:
Ambience:

Doesn't that make your mouth watering already?

I'm in a "I wanna eat more crab kinda mood". (And I just has chilli crab last week!)

On sick leave

On MC for 3 out of 5 days… On Tues, I had the flu bug and also a sore throat. Then when I got back to the office, I coughed my lungs out. My boss sent me home and ordered me to rest before I start to spread it to my other colleagues. In fact this string of virus have been spreading around from one colleague to another after everyone's back from the CNY. So it's back to the doc I go and I got two days MC.

So I tried to make the best of my day.

• Mom came to accompany me and we had breakfast at the market
• Watched curse of the golden flower (It was an overdose of spilling blossom of other kind)
• Packed aside old newspapers for the garang juni man this weekend
• Cooked dinner
• Sorted old magazines and found good places for food J (more on that in a moment)
• Begin scrapbook on my Japan trip
• Watched花样少年少女 (this is actually very funny)

I have another day of MC tomorrow and I’m wondering what to keep myself busy with, especially when it rains and it keeps you stuck at home. I wanted to pop by the library and borrow some cookbooks to start on my baking. But the rain prevented that from happening. I bought my baking equipment but yet to start on it. It’s quite exciting but just hope that it would not be a disaster! Haha.

Oh and yes some good finds while clearing the papers and magazines...
Care for Western Food? Then lets head to UNO in Toa Payoh.

Tucked away in a HDB block off Toa Payoh Lorong 5 is this western food stall that serves it yummylicious signature black pepper sirloin steak. There are also other just as delicious chicken chop and fish and chips. Choices that you can never go wrong :)

UNO BEEF HOUSE
Block 51 Toa Payoh Lorong 5, 01-60
Open: 12.30 to 11pm, closed on alternate Wednesdays.

More food discovery when I blog again. Stay tuned.