Lemon Meringue Cupcake.....base is sponge cake, middle section is lemon filling and the top is meringue scented with lemon bits!!

Okie.....

Will have to do a backtrack post after I recieved my photos for the deserts that we have at Canele.

But first.. .. ..let update about the cupcakes that I had made.. ...

Made Lemon Meringue Cupcake...so how did the idea came about??? We have to start from Canele first..

Went Canele and saw Meringue kisses.. ..came in three favours... ..Lavender, rose and well orginal i think....

Thought about the Lemon Meringue pie that I used to make in Secondary school and decide to attempt it again.. ...but well was too lazy to make a whole pie tart.. ..and beside I am still in my phrase for cupcakes...and decide to change to lemon meringue cupcakes which require some modifications.. ..

Okie first all..the base has to be changed!....can't possible use pie shell as base..so changed to sponge cake as sponge cake is light and airy..so more suitable for the tart, light taste of lemon. That decide and taken care of...have to think about the filling and the meringue.. ..decide to cut down on the amount of sugar so that it is more suitable for Asian taste......and also to bring out the tart lemony taste...and not let sugar overwhelmed it.. ..so TATA!! that how the lemon meringue cupcake is born! hee hee.. ..going to give one to the birthday gal at work and hope she likes it...had also request for my sister to make a cat earnings for her as she is crazy over cats!...well will see her reaction tomorrow...and will try to get my hands on the deserts photos so that we can salivate over it! ha ha

Time to update!!

Been really busy these few days....only able to snatch a few hours of sleep before waking up on ungodly hours (at least in mine opinion!)around 6 plus in the morning!!
Had also been feasting non stop..think it really time that I take stock of what I eat and try to control...well...i defintely do not want to see my waistline expanding ever again except when I pregnant! haha.. .
Recently met up with one good friend who is drowning in her work..sounded so tired and jaded..listening to her..I guess I probably sound the same to others who take the effort to listen to me and encourage. So thanks to all my friends and family who had been faithfully listening to me bitch about my job and gave me lot of encouragements even though I had exhausted their patience with me.
My instructor recently went for a short trip to Bintan..upon hearing that Bintan has jackfruit chips..I told him to help me buy some over there since the chips are selling at a ridiculous price in SG...but alas..he bought 2 packs priced at SG $12 each! oh gosh...it as expensive as SG..in fact even more since he must have bought it at the ferry terminal - the tourist trap! haha..this instructor of mine is super cute lor..haha...and can't help but just adore him for his sweetness :)
I had also at my 1st taste at macarons! ha ha...in SG recently..there had been this craze for this french delicacy known as macaron..different from the US version..French macaron is made using egg white, almond meal and is usually sandwiched together with different types of fillings..whereas the amercian macaroon is made with coconut. I went to canele at Paragon to buy the chocolate macaron..it was ...well okay...haha...think canele had better selection that that..I saw so many cakes there that I am dying to try out but had to restrain myself as I just had lunch at Wisma and is currently trying my darn best to be on a diet! hee hee
Went for training for my volunteer work recently...oh my god....spend one whole day training..and had to travel to woodlands and reach the meeting place at 8am! I stay at the furthest side of east..notorious for being late and never on time..I still manage to reach there barely in time. Ha ha..see what importance I placed on my volunteering! But hai...I feel that the whole matter could and should be organized properly. Went for one comprehensive interview and 2 outings..we were still told that we might not be selected for volunteer work! This is even worst than going for job interviews!!
Though I had to admit I did learn something for my volunteering work....there was this session known as "reflections" whereby we were told to pick up any 1 pictures that are lying around in a room. Later we were given a piece of paper to write down the reason why we choose the pictures and our interpretations of it and what are the emotions involved. After that, we were supposed to turn the picture over..in the reverse page..the same picture is still shown but with its caption there. My picture was a little gal tiptoing on her daddy's feet...It makes me feels that there is trust involved and it should be a joyful and full of sweetness picture..but upon turning over..the caption was "It hurts me to see daddy crying" so basically the little gal was standing on her father's feet and trying to reach his face to stem his tears! My interpretation was totally way off!!! Well I guess this bespoke the kind of character that I had...hee hee I prefer to see the glass half full and believe more in being positive and happy all the time..that is not to say that I do not feel depressed and sad! I do..it just that I feel it senseless to dwell on bad emotions and let it pull me down..and that what i striving to be...stronger and better everyday!!
So let me end this lengthy lengthy post with a poignant caption that I saw at the "reflection" session...it reminds me of my deceased uncle who passed away last year and who I am still missing...

Terminal
We are all taking train trips to a far away place.
And one day, the train will stop at a terminal.
My train will just drop me off earlier than yours....

Okie shall post some pics..if not it too wordy . ...but well...uploading pic is such an hassle.. ..hai..haha..shall post pics of my favourite and adorable baby! A 5 year old Shih Tzu who proudly owes me and my family :) hee hee

Hey are u taking my pic??? I being studious ..u know..hee
Oh...getting tired...I shall take a peek and see whether anyone noticed me lazing ard...
Okie...realie reallie gonna fall asleep....stop taking pic!Yawn....

My two babies!! hee hee see wat a fledging they still are! ...soon soon..they will GROW and shall!
A close up of one! hee hee. ...the aroma...oh man..i can't wait to make my cupcakes..... :)

Juz a few updates... ...
1. Went for my club rainbow first outing....was a Sungei Buloh.. ...supposed to bring the children out on a trekking high..bt too bad...it was raining! And the worse thing....is that there are no wet weather plans! ..so we were cooped up with restless kids in a small limited enclosed place....trying to keep calm, maintained order and entertained the kids at the same time! No mean feat defintely! haha. ....the kid I was taking care of is an adorable 8 years who had cerebral palsy..bt still independent and really active!
2. Was thinking of making chocolate cupcakes with Mint creamcheese frosting...bt could not get my grubby hands on any Mints..and suddenly remember that my colleagues had her own mint plant..so get from her some...and turns out she gave me two branches! Apparently mint branches can propagante by themselves..so wat I need to do..is to stick both babies into soil and water them religiously and before long..they should be thriving and I shall have unlimited supply of Mints!!! yea...haha
3. Went for an interview that requires 5 hours of apitude test! oh my oh my.. ..it psychmotor, math and co-ordination test! And let just say that it will be considered a miracle if I manage to ace through it! hee hee. ....for someone who known for having virtual no maths talent, co-ordination skills and absymal multi-tasking skills.. ..it takes a great deal of courage to go for the test! Now the only thing left to do is pray and pray!! hee

Agnes send tis Qs to me via Gmail and suggests answering tis Qs for my blog entry..so here goes...hee hee


1. Where is your cell phone? At my desk now!
2. Describe your boyfriend/girlfriend? Dun have leh..how to describe unless you wanna dream guy!
3. Your hair? Long and curly...artifical though..i get it permed! hee
4. Your mother? Is a KPO like me! hee hee
5. Your father? Nice guy! I respect him a lot
6. Your favourite item? Eh..hmm photographs (memories u see :) )
7. Your dream last night? I dun dream at all..serious
8. Your favourite drink? plain old Water..i try not to drink as often as I can..ha ha
9. Your dream car? BMW!
10. The room you are in? My office now!
11. Your ex? Erh...haha
12. Your fear? Dying...I tink everybody has e same fear more or less :) I hate flying insects too!!
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? Hmm..Not sure
14. Who did you hang out with last night? My family :)
15. What you're not? I not BITCHY! ha ha seriously...juz blunt n to e point
19. The last thing you did? Eat!
20. What are you wearing? Spag top and bohemien skirt!
22. Your favourite book? hee hee.. .all kind..
23. The last thing you ate? Chocolates!
24. Your life? Is kinda good except for some pesky ppl ard me....till now
25. Your mood? Happy cos knocking off time soon! yea
26. Your friends? Are ppl that i trust a lot
27. What are you thinking about right now? Finshing the Qs!!
28. Your car? No $$ , how to buy
29. What are you doing at the moment? Finishing e Qs..duh
30. Your summer? ..Working wat else
31. Your relationship status? No bf...hw to talk abt r/ship status...
32. What is on your TV? No TV now!
33. When is the last time you laughed? Juz a while ago!
34. Last time you cried? eh..few days ago :)
35. School? Griffiths pri, Pasir Ris sec, Tampines JC, NUS of coz! ha ha

Juz recently celebrated my instructor's Birthday!
Planned a surprise for him.. ...hee but one of us accidently let loose that we are celebrating at Agnes's house..haha luckily not much damage was done...and we manage to still give him a surprise :)

Birthday boy received a necklace and bracelet from us, plus a disney plush toy (dun ask me what it is though.. ..) nt sure what tt weird creature is called..haha and a Gucci card holder (his favourite brand).. ..
tt day was absolutely chaotic!!! we planned a comic skit but as all of us are busy busy working adults contributing to society....nobody has a chance of reading it much less practice it!!! ha ha.. ..turns out we have to improvise badly and badly it was done..but with lotsa laughter and fun..so well....I say it turns out to be really really good.

It was a potluck dinner...bt turns out that the food that received the most compliment is the bee hoon...which we bought from one of those stalls in Chinatown! ha ha...cat's mum cooked curry which turns out to be well-received too :)
Instead of a usual cake, we bought 24 cupcakes for birthday boy as it more unusual... ..wanted 33 but well..baker could onli gave to us in dozen..so well...but the cupcakes was done up real pretty and it looks really good...turns out that it not very sweet too..

Went for KTV after that...haha.. ...most of the time ended singing English songs..with those cheesy MTV of a gal staring forlonly out at the beact, road or even Singapore very own MRT station! ha ha. ... .the western should really invest in good KTV MTV as I heard that the KTV is starting its own craze over there.

Feeling Depressed...guilty as charged...
I hate tis feeling. .. ..hate wat it makes me feel...
Makes my whole family turvsy topy.. ..
Hate that person who makes it so.. ..
Jus Dislike it. ..

Y am i blogging in the middle of working hrs!! ha ha cos i seriously bored and need a diversion..work is piling bt i feeling too legathric to do anyting..hopefully the feeling will pass soon...

Was on a 2 weeks break...clearing my leave! wat a good good feeling! hee hee did nothing except catch up with frenzs and of course...gym non stopped! ha ha..bt i pro need to scale down as i feel the aches and pain of e tortures I put my body through....and it seem like e more I gymed..the more I eat..have to kick the bad bad habit!

Did fulfill all my cooking cravings too and then some..hee hee
Make 4 different types of cookies
1. Chocolate crinkles
2. Checkerboard biscuits
3. Chocolate chip cookies
4. Lemon Melting Moments

Ha ha ..e chocolates favoured cookies went down well with every one tt tried..bt well ...e lemon melting moments garned mixed reactions..hehe with one frenz going aS far as saying it tastes like I put Ma ma Lemon (dish-washing detergents) inside!!
Make chicken pie too :) first time trying after 6-7 yrs..must be glad tt i still remember the procedure..

Next Up - 3 Citrus flavoured Pound Cake
Chicken Pie for my bro again (ha ha he loves it :) )

Your Brain Usage Profile:
Auditory : 53%

Visual : 46%

Left : 50%

Right : 50%

Eileen, your hemispheric dominance is equally divided between left and right brain, while you show a moderate preference for auditory versus visual learning, signs of a balanced and flexible person.
Your balance gives you the enviable capacity to be verbal and literate while retaining a certain "flair" and individuality. You are logical and compliant but only to a degree. You are organized without being compulsive, goal-directed without being driven, and a "thinking" individual without being excessively so.
The one problem you might have is that your learning might not be as efficient as you would like. At times you will work from the specific to the general, while at other times you'll work from the general to the specific. Sometimes you will be logical in your approach while at other times random. Since you cannot always control the choice, you may experience frustrations not normally felt by persons with a more defined and directed learning style.
You may also minimally experience conflicts associated with auditory processing. You will be systematic and sequential in your processing of information, you will most often focus on a single dimension of the problem or material, and you will be more reflective, i.e., "taking the data in" as opposed to "devouring" it.
Overall, you should feel content with your life and yourself. You are, perhaps, a little too critical of yourself - and of others - while maintaining an "openness" which is redeeming. Indecisiveness is a problem and your creativity is not in keeping with your potential. Being a pragmatist, you downplay this aspect of yourself and focus on the more immediate, the more obvious and the more functional.

http://www.mindmedia.com/brainworks/index.html

Happy CNY!!!

It the 3rd day of CNY...I almost done with all visitings...xcept that later I am going to one of my gd friend's hse..

Nthing much to blog about...been reallie tired...visiting is really really tiring! haha eating non-stop and talking non-stop and of course for some...gambling non-stop.

Chinese gambles...it a known fact..bt some of my relatives are reallie terrible! can lose up to $1K in just one day...and that to other relatives.. I wonder during normal days..do they gamble...

the above is of me and Bday Gal..she so sweet looking rite...hee...

















Here the non-baked cheesecake that I made.. ..Biscuit base topped with a strawberry flavoured jello

Okie...so what up during this weekend!

First ...finally manage to sort out all the clothes i bought for CNY and work!! whew...back breaking work..haha threw away lot of clothes that don't fit and those that don't look good...replaced them with all the new ones that I just bought..

Secondly..baked a cheese cake!! haha.. ..well actually it reallie assemble as it is a non-baking cheese cake...make it for V day for my colleagues..hope they like it...

Thirdly..manage to clean up my room partially...and hopefully...be able to finish the clean up ASAP...

Fourth...I meet up with one of my gym friend who just came back frm Korea..bought me sweets n chocos! haha so sweet as she knows I a sweet junkie who loves Chocos too..esp dark choco...

Whew..sounds like a busy weekend.haha...though i have not finish expanding all my energy..manage to play majong with my family too :)

Next up..will be CNY....hope I don't stuffed myself too much with all the goodies...

Next up on the baking list: cinnanmon buns!! hopefully..haha


Photos up next.. ..

Recently celebrated my gd friend's birthday. So what did we do...hmm sing songs at Party world and then dinner at Yuki Yaki.

Partyworld's service was slow! haha they opened for business at 3pm..but if you were to arrive there slightly vefore 3pm, the KTV will still be closed! when they say 3pm promptly, they really meant it! And when we tried to order bubble tea, we were discouraged from doing so by the waiter. He mentions that we probably have to wait for up to 2 hours for our drinks to be served as they need to cook the pearl and etc!!!

After KTV, we headed to Yuki Yaki, a japanese steamboat cum teppanyaki resturant. Well the food is more like the marina south steamboat! haha...but course with better ambience and atmosphere. There of course some sushi and other assorted cooked japanese food which we tried.. Verdict..Yuki Yaki good for those who are very hungry and fuss free people who just want to eat and not spend a bomb!

So what did we give the birthday gal for her present! hee hee nothing! We are just treating her to KTV and dinner. But I did make a cake for her! haha but underestimate the time needed..so the cake's appearance turns out bad but taste wise...its pretty okie...I subsutitute Baileys for Khalau and it turns out to taste better...hee hee...but defintely still have room for improvement..and my dear friends, watch out! haha whoever birthday is coming up...u guys gonna be my next experiement target!

N what else...but loads n loads of photos!!!! will upload later..

Okie the last of the wedding's photos. ..NjOY!

Several thingz to blog about.. . ..
okie..one at a time...

Make muffins...hmm...turns out worst than I thought! ha ha.. .. ..let just say I better stick to my day Job...lalala

Also... .went for a friend's wedding..my primary school mate! what a surprise.. ..receive her invitation one week before the actual day.. ..will upload the photos later.. ..the wedding was more like a gathering...haha haven't see each other for a long time. ..thus ended up chatting nonstop and neglect the bride! also see one of my primary school friend in my gym! she went for aquafit.. ..which is the claz i frequent most.. ..what a concidence..ha ha and because of me..my instructor get to know her..n keeps calling her "primary school friend"!!

And talking of gym.. .. hmm..let just say that the frenzs u know there might not be ur actual frenz..they might have ulterior motive in getting to know u better or hang out with u.. .. I noticed my clique of frenzs at gym is getting bigger and bigger..there seem to be more gals hanging out with me.. ...and seem to be asking me the same Q over and over agin...hmm ..getting a bit fed up...but keeps cool and just ignore it.. ..

okie an update!!

My pineapple tart making venture is offically a DIASTER!!! haha.. ... the tart does not taste at all remotely like pineapple tart according to my family members who helpfully tasted my tarts...
First complain - pineapple jam was too soft!
2nd up - Tart was tasteless.. ...
3rd complaint - Tart was too crumbly
4th complaint - the tart and jam does not go well!!!

Argh.. who could guess it was so hard to make a simple tart...now i know why this delicacy is priced so expensive.. . .

So to regroup... ..i need to cook my jam a bit longer (well..make it really much longer).... add salt to my tart base.. ..less butter maybe

So wish me luck ya! one time failure does not make me a failure! hee hee .. ....

okie...first post of the new year! though it comes a bit late..i still manage to upload it in Jan.

..let see...this year, I decide to forgo all resolutions..haha what the point of making promises when I know I will not be able to keep it...
Decide to do more baking.. .(hmm is that a resolution?? haha)

Let see what I have been up to.. .. .
I made Ondeh Ondeh.. ...the traditionally type kind...with mashed sweet poatates and pure gula melaka filling. ..oh man...a small simple ball.. ..but the making not as simple as it looks! I have to steam the sweet potatoes..mashed it.. .combined with flour and other ingredients to make it into a dough.. ..then chop the gula melaka into small pieces and finally rolled into a ball....then it down into a pot of boiling water and then rolling it around steamed coconut shreds...before we get to eat the humble ondeh ondeh!
Think I do not have to go gym to tone up my arms..haha just have to mash the sweet pototaes everyday.. my arms ache...

Next item on the baking sheet!
Pineapple tarts! Since I learn how to bake, I have been baking only western goodies...decide maybe it time I try to learn how to make CNY goodies...hee..so decide to tackle the most popular item...PINEAPPLE TARTS..
now been told that it is not easy to make a good pineapple tarts...and that the texture should be crumbly, melt in your mouth and the pineapple jam has to be fragrant yet not overpowering and not to sweet either...hmmm for someone who do not eat pineapple tart...this gonna be a huge task! haha ......people were asking..if you never taste pineapple tart before..how are you gonna make it.. .never fear! I have lot of samplers at home...haha...mi parents are gonna be my guinea pigs...
And also found out that my favourite CNY goodies is known as Kueh Bohlu! I always describe it as the "soft, spongy base ball looking thingy ... " haha..which left a lot of people scratching their head in confusion...
I wanna try making that too....but first of all..will need to get hold of the mould.. ..

Wil upload photos ASAP...getting a bit lazy with uploading the photos...

Okie...trying to get into the habit of updating my blog regularly.. hope it not a temporary resolution..hee
Just finished celebrating Xmas and we are on the verge of sending away 2006 and welcoming 2007.
This is also the time that ppl ended up more resolutions than they can fulfill...hee hee..
Let see what are the common ones that I can think of.. .
1. To lose weight (all time favourite of women around the world...dun think anyone ever keep to tt though...)
2. To be on time (Confess! who has ever been on the dot all the time...defintely not me...)
3. To save more money (ha ha ha...i Dare anyone to be able to do tt...defintely not in sale craze Singapore)
4. To be more gracious and kind to fellow human beings (but then again..being an office b*t*ch does have its advantages ..hee..nt tt I am one.. .)
5. To keep to all new year resolutions (HA HA HA...)
Whatever it is.. ...2007 is a new beginining and we shd harden our resolves and makes changes as desired.. I mean a fresh new start... can only happens once in a year...let grab the opportunity and not let it slip. ..

Oh gosh...time reallie flies.. ..how long have i not blogged..hmm let see.. ...about 6 mths or so?? Things have been happening at warp speed and I guess I have no time to blog... .
Okie a brief recap.. ..someone close to me has passed away... ard e time tt I stopped blogging. ..did not wanna dwell to much into it..just that Cancer reallie reallie sucks.....
I have a complete new set of colleagues...haha has to adjust to new way of working and co-operation...let just say tt humans are creatures of habit and abhor changes and leave it as tt!
I lose weight! hee hee exercise is reallie impt in keeping the weight off and to look toned...plus it fun when u do exercise with ppl tt u r comfortable with!
And now to look forward to the new year.. .... I have reallie grow during this yr.. ..things happened and I have to adjust and adapt to changes...guess this is how we all grow...having nasty stuff throw to us and learning to cope with it.. .
I am comfortable with the way I am and now looking back at 2006 .. .dun think I have much regrets..perhaps a bit of twinges here and there. ...thinking tt I shd handles some incidences with more maturity and coolness..but well what pass has pass and no point in dwelling on it.
Just celebrate Xmas with my good pals.. .we booked a room at gallery and have dinner at marmalade pantry..the food was good..desserts was fantastic! hee I have snapper pot pie with fennel...the serving was just right and they were reallie generous with the amt of snapper inside. We order 3 desserts; sticky date toffee pudding, profiteroles with eggnog and a lemony custardy tart. The lemon tart was good and the only grouse I have was tt the tart was a bit too hard...guess it has been in the fridge for quite a while.. . Now for some pics.. .