2 Cakes and 2 Birthdays

I'm grabbing every opportunity to make birthday cakes to practise cake decorating.
Hannah's birthday was yesterday, and I made her a cake with strawberry filling, her favourite.
During Lydia's 1st birthday, she kept on telling me how good the cake was, so I made the same cake for her birthday, with different decoration, definately.





I made some mistakes, should've made the words using the same colours for the same letter. Due to space restraints, the words looked like scattered candies, rather than words, except for the capital H.



The kids couldn't wait to have the candies...




After Hannah's birthday party, it's my mom's turn.
Actually, her birthday's 2 weeks back, but I was in confinement, so the candle blowing was postponed to today. Mom didn't want "publicity", so she didn't want to bring her cake to KFC and blow it together with Hannah. We did it after the party, just among family members.




Neapolitan Yogurt Cheesecake, a personal creation.





The cake 's side was a bit crumbled... logistics fault. He he!

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Lyanne's Full Moon

We didn't really celebrate it this time.. cos her full moon is during Chinese New Year. U know la, Chinese New Year is difficult to get restaurants.

As for Lydia last time, we had a lunch reception in Kampar, and a week later, another dinner in Kuala Kangsar.

We didn't do the head shaving thing or other chinese belief practices, as we believe that my daughter is pure and clean even from the day she is born, no need so wash away the bad stuff.

Her life is in Gods' hands and we rest assured that God will lead the way for her.

So, this time, I prepared gift packs to "reply" the gifts that were given to her by friends and family.
I didn't order, cos, I don't want to force myself to deliver everything on the same day, plus, during CNY season, people may not be at home. And the ordered stuff cannot be kept. So, if I have extras, what to do with it? That's why I decided to DIY.

What's in the box------- Pickled ginger, pickled papaya, red eggs, Angku agar-agar and cake (choc or sponge cups(2 pandan, 2 coffee, and 2 orange. The orange ones shrunk, dunno why, but still tasted ok))

The pickled stuff were prepared my my confinement lady before she went back for CNY (she was off a week earlier), and I didn't want to order traditional angkus, as they cannot be kept and I don't think many people will want to eat them. Agar ones are better.




I started giving away the packs since the 3rd week, few days before CNY, like my colleagues, as I knew they'd be away for a week. And on the 1st day CNY I gave away gifts to friends and relatives on my side of the family, as I went back for CNY on day one. Hubbys' side mostly were given away 2 days b4 CNY. And by today, the last 2 packs, done! Why overdue? Cos I can only see them today.

It may be time consuming or tiring to prepare these stuff DIY. KK is not a place where I can get Ayamas or other shops to order full moon gift packs. Altho there are people taking orders here, but it's troublesome for me in the end, in the event of delivering. I'd rather DIY, so that I can take my own sweet time.

Lyanne's been good so far, feeding and sleeping well. Thank God!
And my confinement has come to an end! Woohooo!!!!!!

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Lyanne's Home!

I didn't get to be induced on 29th... I had stiff neck that day, so it was postponed to 31st, 7am.

31st dec, 4.30am, I woke up, feeling an urge to poo... It feels like it...
After 3 poo-like contractions and no poo coming out, I knew it... OMG!
Went out and check the clock. 5 mins apart! Oh no..... better be quick.
Woke Mike up and he quickly got ready.

Thank God Lydia is spending the night with Nanny cos I was supposed to be induced that morning and be in hospital by 7, so she didn't sleep at home that night.

It's 35 mins to Ipoh Specialist Hospital. Throughout the journey, my contractions shortened from 5 minutes to 3 minutes apart. I dared not tell Mike...

When we reached, I quickly went in on my own, while Mike parked the car. By the time I made it to the Maternity ward, the pain was just 1-2 minutes apart.
The nurses quickly attended to me. It was 5.50am

Midwife checked me, I was 5 cms dilated. I asked for epidural, she said, "No need, by the time u take the enema, u'll be 8 cm dilated." I was so scared! How to deliver a 9 pounder??????

My waters broke right after the razors left me. It felt like "pop" and "slusshhh"
Then, the enema. The nurse told me to go ease my self after 10 minutes, but I said, I'm not going to wait.. She went away.

I got down the bed and saw my waters... It was thick and dark green! Meconium! I kept calm and was telling my self that the nurse saw it and told the midwife..

I went in... I sat down on the WC..

Pain came, and it won't stop, it was a different kind of pain, I couldn't walk, or stand up, I was so scared.
I yelled and the nurse came to open the toilet door..she quickly got me a wheel chair and helped me got up onto the wheel chair.

The midwife came in and told me to get on the delivery bed, I dared not move my legs, the baby's pushing! They persuaded me to quickly get on.....and I finally did it with much courage.
She checked me again, indeed, I was 8cm dilated.

I was given gas, Nitrous Oxide, my mind was off the pain, I just focused on sucking in the gas while waiting for my doc to arrive. Baby's pushing... In my heart I was so scared.

Mike finally came back from the admission procedures, and he was surprised to see me in the delivery room. He tought I will be in the staging room. He quickly put on his apparel and came to my side, held my hands.

Dr Diva finally arrived and the nurses put me into position, legs up.
When the baby pushed again, I also pushed.

**At this point, I've forgotten about the pain**

1 push, can see the crown.
2nd push, the head's out!
3rd push! All out!!!! It was 6.26am
I cried in relieve.... I was so scared, really very scared! Everything's over now. Mike held on to me, wiped my tears...

Doc put Lyanne onto me.... and I could see her.....
The nurses quickly cleaned her and did whatever necessary.
Doc got my placenta and blood clots out, sew me and I was transfered to my room...

Everything's over... I can finally rest. I can't believe it. She's 3.84kg or 8 pounds 7 oz, and I did it without the Epidural...










Both baby and I were discharged on 2nd Jan, and headed home.

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Jojo and Hung's Birthday

This was last saturday.

I made my eldest brother and her daughter a Strawberry Shortcake. Their birthdays are just 1 week apart.

The deco was simple..but yet, made my niece""Awwwww".. kekekeke

As long as the strawberries are big, red, and there's lots of chocolate... they're happy..keke..

The huge strawberries(min 2 inch long) are from Raju's in Camerons. Darn pricey now. RM30/kg, got a shock when I paid for them. They used to be just RM20 few months back. But believe me, they are worth it. I got them one week b4 I made the cake and the leftover strawberries are 2 weeks old now.. and they're still fine and fresh in my fridge. Still trying to figure out what to do with just 8 strawberries.

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Lydia's 3 Birthday Parties

It's finally over!! 3 parties over 3 weekends!!

I'm exhausted... frankly..it's not the actual physical work, but more on the mental side.. Maybe a bit from worrying whether I can finish cooking on time.


First Party (16 Aug 2008, Kampar)


Her 1st birthday cake.. mini Strawberry Shortcake .. very ugly icing.. and it's dairy cream on a hot night.... It was done in a hurry... Forgive me for the hole down there.. wonder why hubby din see that when he took this pic


The spread... taken from both sides


All the children that came



Jojo, Hannah and Louis giggling over the dirt pot cakes


The favourite among kids... worm topping


2nd Party (23 Aug 2008, KL)

Well, it was not a actual party for her, it was a family gathering intended for my uncle. So, her cake was just an add on to the occasion... The more the merrier...

Aunt Wan Ching bought her this jelly cake


3rd Party (31 Aug 2008, Kuala Kangsar)

Didn't take the pic of the whole spread... forgot about it.




The wording's red colour was weeping onto the cake..... cos I piped it on the day before..but sofar this was my best iced cake... Still learning to do it better


It's peach cake with orange sponge... tasted very good actually


Clapping to her birthday song..


Getting fed with cake by nanny..

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Lydia's Birthday

My daughter will be having her Cow One soon... kekeke.... Wot's that??

In cantonese, 'ngau yat' is a nickname for birthday.. and it's her
1st birthday!!!!!

She's going to have 3 parties! One this Sunday, the next on next Saturday and the next on next, next Sunday. 3 parties over 3 weekends. The actual date is Aug 28.

Why so many?? Just take it as, she's loved by too many people!

I'll be cooking for the first and last party.

Menu for 1st party: (few kiddies in mind)
Lasagna, Stock Fried Rice Vermicelli, Chicken Ham Sandwiches, Honey Chicken Wings, Pink Dragon Fruit Jelly, Tuna Patties, Caesar salad, Flower Pot Cakes, and Ribena

Menu for 3rd party: (all adults, except Lydia)
Kerabu Bihun, Spaghetti Bolognese, Garlic Baked Potatoes, Coleslaw, Mango pudding, Honey Chicken Wings and lime juice, and of course, birthday cake! No exact plan yet on what cake to bake..





This was taken when she was just 15 days

I will be posting abt her parties...

Btw.... I still dunno the gender of the bun in my oven.. it's 21 weeks now

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Chicken with Red Dates Soup ????

I have a grandaunt who lived til she was 96. She was the eldest sister of my paternal grandmother. My father and I were babysat by her, so were my father's siblings and my siblings. So, she was very much involved in our lives.

She cooked our daily meals until.. she was.... 90. Well, she was a healthy woman until that great power disruption of 1997. Imagine her running after us with a cane when she was 85. She could cross a busy road while on the way to church for Mother's day or Easter celebrations. Taking awards for being the oldest person in church for many many years.. **she was born on the same year Kampar Chinese Methodist Church was established, 1903.

She was a disciplinarian, taking over the role from my grandma who was busy making ends meet for the whole family. Everybody will turn up for her big birthday, her own grandchildren (lesser) and us her niece, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews making up the majority. Her passing away brought much sorrow to our family... most of all to my small ku cheh.. hehehe.

Memories of her remain.. We miss her cooking a lot. She could cook many dishes that none of us could ever recreate.

This soup is one of it. My favourite soup from grandaunt.

Chicken and Red Dates Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

• 400gm chicken (abt 1 quarter bird)
• 15pcs red dates
• 1.5L water
• 1/2 tsp salt.

Method.

1. Boil water.
2. Remove skin from chicken.
3. Hit red dates with the side of a cleaver and remove seeds.
4. Place chicken and red dates into boiling water and simmer for 3 hours.
5. When ready, season with salt. Pepper is not necessary.

**

I made this with a slow cooker, 4 hours on high. Heating up slow cooker, put in chicken and pitted red dates, then pour in boiling water.

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Homemade Strawberry Jelly ??????

homemade strawberry jelly



I often order Jelly & Ice cream at KFC, besides getting some for my nieces as well. Well, kids love strawberry jelly. I'm a kid.. haha!!


There are quite a number of brands in the market, Jello, Nona, Lady's Choice.... But why don't you try making one from scratch. It's not difficult. One can be assured that no colouring or flavouring essences are added in, and it's not that much dearer than buying it in a packet.


Last week, hub's fren Kenny bought us 2kgs of strawberries, so this is the first thing that came out of it.


My nieces had a great time helping out to make their favourite dessert. I gave them table knives (can't cut themselves) and flat dinner plates to do their bit of masak-masak.






Homemade Strawberry Jelly Recipe
2 cups of Strawberries (cut into smaller chunks)
2 cups water
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp gelatine


Put strawberry chunks, sugar and water into a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Use a fork to lightly squash the fruits as it comes to a boil.
When it has boiled, let it simmer for a minute until fruits are very soft.
Take it off the fire and strain the juice.
Sprinkle gelatine into hot juice and stir to dissolve.
When gelatine has dissolved, put in lemon juice.
Let jelly mixture cool down a bit and pour into jelly moulds or cups.
(I cool it down so that my niece can do it)

into taller cups, to go with ice cream later, shorter cups, to eat it on it's own

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Yummy Strawberries from Kenny!!

I'm a sucker for strawberries.... Anything made with this.. I'd love it.

Hub's fren, Kenny, works in Camerons and he visits my hub almost monthly. Cameron's strawberries ripen on the plant itself and they can't last long, but are very fragrant and sometimes sweet (depends on the weather what!!). So, Kenny gets them as fresh as he can for me.. (He's got connections up there.... ) This time, he got me 2 kgs of huge red strawberries!!

see how much he got me!!!! 2 kgs of fat big strawberries

My head is thinking of strawberry jelly, red velvet cake (found a recipe that uses strawberry juice as the colouring), strawberry poke cake, and strawberry mirror cake (again!!!!!!)

I kept those ripe but not very ripe ones into the fridge and wait few days for them to ripen even more before I hull and chuck them into the freezer for future use.. and the very ripe ones... I plan to make them into Strawberry Jelly with my 2 nieces, Hannah and Jojo this weekend.

Just look at them.... Aren't they pretty??

A nice one on hubby's fingers

So, will be posting a strawberry jelly recipe soon.... next week, maybe??

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