Monday, January 28, 2008

my yummiest pineapple tarts so far..

cny is coming soon.. time to bake for my family.. my house in fact.. have been baking and distributing them to my relatives and dear dear..

kendy found a great recipe for pineapple tarts.. it gives the melt in the mouth feeling and omits a very fragant smell from the pineapple tarts..

here's a picture of it.. 1 recipe of can make about 50 tarts which store about 3 quarters of the red plastic bottle.. which means i have to make alot! now am thinking.. perhaps i should take 1 day leave on wednesday, eve of lunar new year to bake more.. but is real tiring..

Sunday, January 27, 2008

my almond cookies! melt in the mouth wor..

kendy brought yummy green pea and peanut cookies to office last week.. it has the melt in the mouth sensation. great! finally, found something good.. been wanting to try for i have 1 kg of ground almonds i bought to make for cny but haven found a good recipe for it..

so on saturday night, i finished baking my 1 kg of ground almonds! hee.. it really melts in the mouth! my dad thought i was making sugee!! crystal and my aunt came over on saturday night when i was baking and they love it too! dear dear ate alot too.. my previous almond cookies that i baked, though dear did not say is not nice.. it was left untouched for a while.. hee..

the satisfaction from a baker is hearing comments from others that they love the things we bake!! wow! i feel so great!

now am trying to find green peas to make green peas cookies.. mum said it is "fashionable" because she tried some green pea cookies at takashimaya square and i saw prima deli selling it today.. i must try it soon!

my weekend..

finally, terminal 3 is already in operation and i guess most singaporeans have been to it.. on friday night, dear dear and i decide to go airport to visit t3 and eat popeyes.. my 1st time trying it...

having some fun snapping around..

*ding ding* time for dinner.. hee.. so yummy right.. the fries has some herb taste, nice.. the whipped potato has some potato chuncks.. yummy! the chicken has different degree of spiciness which you can choose.. lastly, oh my! i didnt except the muffin or scone so so tasty.. it is hard on the outside but very extremely soft on the inside, served warm, great!.. they provide strawberry jam for that too!

artisitc shot! hee..

Monday, January 21, 2008

cookies and cream milk..

melanda-chan gave me this flavoured straw she bought from taiwan.. she said it comes in other flavours too, strawberry etc.. for this one, it is cookies and cream flavour..

this straw is for children that do not like to drink milk, and thus drink the milk through the flavoured straw to get cookies and cream milk! well, for me, i am one who do noe like to drink milk.. so getting all excited to try this straw! the 1st mouthful, i could taste all the cookies and cream rushing into my mouth! its amazing!!!

thanks melanda-chan for the flavoured straw!! i love it!

Sunday, January 20, 2008

been lazy to blog but been baking..

last sunday, tried to make chocolate chips cookies from the recipe given by kendy mummy, she made some yummy chocolate chips cookies last week and we all gave the thumbs up! she gave me the same recipe but the result did not turn out well..:(

presenting the unsucessful choco chips cookies..

over the week, baked some apple crumble for mum to bring to work and hand delivered to dear dear for his tea break..

packed apple crumble for dear dear..

made some pineapple tarts too.. tried the recipe from the book sweet asian treats.. it really gives the melt-in-the mouth feeling! it is quite easy to make.. nice! i like it!

yesterday, tried to make cornflake cookies from my grandma's recipe book.. already bought all the ingredients ready at home from my last visit at phoon huat.. all the cornflakes, cherry garnish, butter, sugar etc.. it's time to try..

it is not too bad.. hee

happy birthday papa..


it was dad's birthday 2 weeks ago (been too lazy to blog) haa.. baked him a cake and we shared a wallet between the siblings as his pressie..

we cut he cake at 11pm as he was getting to work.. both dear dear and alfred came to celebrate his birthday but it was too late and as it was a working day the next day, they had all gone home and wasnt there to cut the cake..

well.. dad and mum gave face and ate the cake.. taste not too bad.. but have lots of room for improvement! kambatte on my next attempt to bake cake..

Thursday, January 10, 2008

touching morning..

"Thanks for the call of concern yesterday sista. Though tired, I am feeling better le. Love you. Don worry too much abt yr finances sis. I believe that God knows the best for you and will provide for what you need. I miss the days of innocence and carefree life. This is the period of test and endurance for us. It will help us mature and grow. Stay close. I love you" -- from sista..

received a warm message that brightens my morning.. actually frankly, it did not only make you feel better.. it made me feel better also.. i love the statement best, "cut your liabilities, if you cant.. increase your earnings.. somehow, someway" haha.. though is not easy, but will endure on.. thanks for your encouragement really.. we'll stay close, definitely.. i love you too! remember to take good care of yourself.. f you ever need a helping hands, i'll be here.. *hugs*

this has been really a tough period for both of us.. always making decisions and more decisions and more decisions.. parents dont seem to offer much of support anymore because im grown up and decisions have to be made on my own.. though they do offer advice, but their advice always have to weigh the pros and cons.. there is no correct or wrong decision.. whichever you make.. makes me confused, worried and at loss at times..

baking does lift off my worries.. because when i bake, i have to put my mind focus on the recipe.. following it closely, watching the batter, the oven, etc.. by the time the cake or cookies is removed from the oven, it's time to rest.. too tired to even want to care about the decisions that i have to make.. though not now, but i have always been ks.. i plan.. i do not want things to come where i do not have time to react.. i weigh the pros and cons.. but in big decisions like these where $$ is involved is not easy.. hmm..

dear dear is right, after a hard day of work.. its time to relax and not put on our shoulders the heavy burden..

Lord, i hand you all my worries, my burdens and my confusion and be happy.. Thanks sista, you told me no matter what, the best is to be happy.. because even if you are rich, if you are not happy, it is of no use.. so i shall stick to my plans, continue to save as much as i can for now.. for a better future for us.. Mr, Mrs Yeo and maybe years down the road, junior Yeo.. hee..

all rightey, back to work..

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

baking baking baking..

tomorrow is dad's birthday.. so my baking frenzy continues.. i baked a cake for him.. well, it is small.. but hope he likes it! will put the happy birthday tag on the cake tomorrow when they celebrate..

i wonder how it taste like because i did not have a chance to try it..

hot from the oven..

decorated cake for dad..

with the filings and chocolate filings..

walnut cookies recipe from sweet asian treats..

Monday, January 07, 2008

baking tart shells..

today's my 1st day back to work.. not used to waking up at 6:30am.. i dragged myself from the bed and gave dear dear the usual morning call.. the days that i do not have to work.. dear dear was late for work because i couldnt wake up in time to give him morning call.. but today is back to normal.. i called him more than 2 times to make sure he wake up liao.. usually i call him once, sometimes twice..

gjh was having sale for their newmoon can mili products.. told dad if he wanted me to buy abalone and get dear dear pay for it for cny.. but he told us to save the $$.. so i only bought the following:

1) 1 can of fruit cocktail for my fruit tart.. hee..
2) 2 abalone sauce for home..
3) 2 lock and lock containers.. having a real good offer at $1 each.. mummy kendy bought 8!!
4) 1 can of straw mushroom for friday steamboat dinner..
5) 1 box of abalone yusheng for my in-laws..

which reminds me that this year reunion dinner is not the same as the past.. i will go home with dear dear to have steamboat dinner with his family.. then after, we will head home to mine for dinner.. which means that they start without me.. hope they start the ball rolling and mingle around when i reach.. because my chatty nature will make sure everyone gets comfy before the dinner starts.. hee..

after work, came home to bake more things.. since mum love my apple pie the other time, i made another round of mini apple tarts for her.. hee.. the rest of my tarts, i baked empty tart shells so that i can put fruits, custard, cream cheese etc on top as i like.. hee..

wednesday night going to make a cake for my dad birthday.. he has always been supportive of my baking frenzy and even encouraged me to go for classes to learn.. so gona make 1 for his birthday..

gona fill the empty tart shells with beans so that the pastry does not rise.. and still leave some space for my fillings..

i made more than 24 apple crumble tarts and have 30 over tart shells.. so happy and satisfied with my baking! hee..

my tart shells..

look at the difference between the rounded shaped tart shell and flowered shaped.. the rounded shaped makes the tart looks nicer at the top.. sighz.. should i get another baking tin??

packing some for my colleagues tomorrow..

Sunday, January 06, 2008

my weekend..

went singing with dear dear on friday at partyworld with another couple.. this is the 1st time i see his gf.. enjoyed myself thoroughly.. i haven been singing for ages! managed to sing que yang.. o.. it reminds me of the show.. am watching romantic princess now but am not a fan of angela to begin with so does not gives me the motivation to finish the show like why why love..

on saturday we woke up really early to go school to pay our school fees.. after, we headed to orchard to exchange taka vouchers from the taka card then went to walk around.. it was raining and orchard was packed! human jam from the underpass.. we bought ingredients to make wanton noodles.. thanks dad to minced my pork, chestnut and prawns together.. else we would have had a later dinner.. bty, we ate at 9pm.. considered late as i usually have dinner before 7..

then after, i made some almond jellies and konnyaku jellies for dessert..

Thursday, January 03, 2008

my baking frenzy day two..

these two days my holiday is just baking baking and more baking.. hee.. but i wasted alot of $$ to buy ingredients.. i bought custard powder but have not gotten a chance to use it yet.. hope to use it soon.. hope to make a moussecake for dad's birthday next week.. and can do something special soon.. hee hee..

i have been sleeping late the past few days.. watching romantic princess and sleeping late at night, waking up late in the mornings when it is already noon then will do my baking in the afternoon till dinner time.. haha.. its been 2 tiring days for me.. no more such crazy baking schedule after today.. haha..

dear dear came over to have dinner today, i packed everything nicely for him.. a buttercake, pineapple tarts, almond cookies, strawberry cheese tarts, cream cheese cuppies.. hee.

presenting the pictures i took today..

waiting for my egg whites to turn soft peaks.. wow! i must say i have wait so long for it to turn soft peaks.. i cant imagine if i want to do meringue.. wont i have to wait for a longer time for stiff peaks! haha..

my 1st butter cake.. in square tin..

my 2nd butter cake in round tin..

then after, i went to make more petite stuff.. no joke man. i have to carefully use my fingers to put the crust into the mould.. i had to wait and wait.. i cant remember how many tarts i baked today! i baked alot to give dear dear and my families.. my strawberry cheese tarts for my cute cousins, they love cheese!

am too tired today.. but i had fun today! baking makes my face oily because always place it near the oven while looking at my batter to bake.. it makes my hand very dry.. because of handling the butter and the frequent wash, my hands become so dry! must moisturise it!!

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

my baking frenzy..

my cny theme.. tried to make some pineapple tarts and more almond cookies so dear dear can bring to his office and let his colleagues try and uh-hum.. hee..

i printed 2 different types of pineapple tarts recipes.. tried the 1st one.. had fun printing the tart shapes and rolling the pineapple filling.. so excited with the results..

to my dismay, the crust does not give a melt in your mouth sensation, it taste like biscuits and is rather hard for pineapple tart crust.. hmm.. so decide to try the 2nd recipe.. b sis and myself prefered the 2nd recipe.. dad said both taste just as great..usually i do not eat the pineapple filling, but this time i love it.. especially the 2nd recipe where the pineapple is inside the crust, it is rather juicy and does not dries up! *thumbs up!*

it is so beautiful!

what a lovely sight! cant wait to taste it!

tried another recipe.. this one taste not bad though..
b sis said it taste rather buttery.. its good! coz the crust is supposed to taste buttery..

after my pineapple tarts, i went to make more almond cookies so that everyone can try.. thats also because i bought a kilograms of almond today! hee..

lastly, packing them all in containers! am tired but am happy! had a fruitful wednesday at home..

welcoming year 2008 with open arms!

Thank you Jesus for blessing me with a great 2007 and another great 2008 ahead!

It will be a challenging year for us with our intensive savings plan for our marriage plans, the house, the customary etc.. though i am not in approving to hold a customary marriage to have banquet and all but dear dear prefers to have it.. thus, we will slowly plan for it.. in the meantime, will have to save up for it!

dear dear told me his new year resolution is to cut down on drinking.. do not be mistaken, he do not drink so often now compared to before we got together.. he goes once a month or some months, he dont even drink! but he drinking has gotten better.. in the past i think he can drink more.. the recent pubbing we went together to celebrate our rom, he drank only a mug of beer and that's all! in the past, when we go together, he could drink 1 jug!

thanks my dear hubby for being so supportive especially when it comes to my baking.. he eats whatever that i bake! and that's because i know what he likes and bake to his taste! haha.. he is always the one that eats the most of my baking.. at times, even when the recipe fails me, haha.. he will also eat it.. never once has he said that my baking is lousy.. or why couldnt you improve? most of the time, he will say i give him surprises! he always say,"wow! my clever dear dear!" haha.. wow! egg tart, banana cake, cinnamon rolls, cheese cake, rum balls, almond cookies, chocolate cookies, butter cookies, cupcakes, apple crumble etc etc.. he is the 1st to say that my cupcakes taste great!

not only supporting the things i made, he accompanies me to phoon huat, fairprice baking section knowing that i can spend hours there and be fascinated by the things sold there.. though i have been to phoon huat jurong east many times, but each time is a new experience for me as i discover more things! as the little things can amount to alot.. i window-shopped at the ingredients, baking trays, wrappers, etc.. trust me, if i had no restrictions on myself, i can buy up the whole shop! besides accompanying me there, at times he would choose to sponsor my purchase.. i am not the girl that buys everything and he pays for everything.. i would choose to pay it myself as i bought it on my own accord..

other non-baking stuff included the porridge i made when he was sick, he love the pork balls porridge, rosti, carbonara pasta, pizza, herbal chicken, wanton noodles etc.. hope i will get more chances to whet your appetite.. hee.. which means, we come home more often for dinners.. hee

thanks dear dear for always reminding me to have my meals, whenever we go out, i try to save on the orders, you always share your food with me, though you prefer to eat your own, so that i wont go hungry.. you make sure i have my blanket on before you sleep whenever we stayover, you go orchard with me though u dislike crowds, you call me often though ur out with your pals, you give me morning calls during singapore public holidays ensuring that i wake up on time for work, coming to my workplace to wait for me when you do not have to work.. and when you come, you always bring a snack for me, curry puff etc knowing i'll be hungry.. hee.. taking bus with me knowing i do not like to stand on trains.. bringing umbrella out knowing i do not like to get drenched even if the rain is small or the walk is short.. dedicating songs for me when we go ktvs knowing what songs i'll sing.. pretending im the greatest singer! haha.. always seeking my opinions and trusting my views on things.. calling me in the middle of the night knowing that im not asleep when you were already sleeping, like just now, to remind me not to sleep late.. making sure that i have a wet sponge on me when i fell sick.. i can get too missy when i fall sick, whining and complaining about my discomfort.. accompany me to the library to read up on recipe books together.. listening to me when it comes to financial management.. calling the banks and etc.. i can nag the whole afternoon! hah.. scanning my recipes for me when you were busy at work because i left the recipe at your house.. hee..

i am happy to be married to you, my dearest hubby! may we have a great year of 2008! may we continue to stay lovey-dovey always, be happy together, always compromising with each other.. always making time for each other, and me nag less.. hope i will continue to bake great treats for your stomach! hee.. we do not have to be rich to be happy.. we will be satisfied with today and welcome tomorrow with open arms.. i love you..

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

happy birthday crystal!

happy birthday crystal! went to crystal jade for her birthday celebration..

happy 2008!

this whole week is not a working week for me! hee hee.. so it's time for my baking to full force.. with my theme.. cny this week.. trying the recipes out so that when it's nearing cny time, i can start mass production! haha..

tried almond cookies today.. only bought 70gms of almond when it requires 150gms so i divided the recipe into 3.. n added all the almond in.. nowadays im lazy to take pictures of the process.. only the final product.. haha.. it taste not too bad.. i think looks not bad too.. just that i can make it abit smaller and of equal sizes.. hee.. so kendy mummy, up to your standard? hee.. she keep saying the things i bake i didnt present it well! hah..

since i ratioed the recipe, trust me, the little are the ones that i baked.. no kick. so decide to make banana flavored milk tarts since i bought banana essence over the weekend.. bought digestive biscuits to make baileys cheesecake.. supposedly on saturday.. but when i came home, i realise my baileys have expired! sighz! so the digestive biscuits is kept in the tin! have to find some cheesecake recipes to make soon.. hmm..

see, my nice mini banana milk tarts.. aren't they lovely?? i bought mini baking tins too!! so cute!

after my baking frenzy, went to meet dear dear for dinner as our celebration for countdown.. went to hougang central.. neighbourhood to get away from the crowds in town.. we went to cafe cartel for dinner.. the service was so slow.. i doubt we will patronise there again.. then we headhome to watch the countdown program.. was so tired.. because i slept at 5am the previous night as i was editing the rom photos for blogging. heee..

my rom album..

finally! i got my rom album from my aunt.. it is her gift to us.. it is very extremely beautiful.. we love it very much! she is also the photographer that day.. thanks yi, for everything!

sunday morning, we went to suntec macdonalds for breakfast and meet up with her to get the album.. yi, we wanted to treat u to breakfast.. but u bought already.. next time..

snapshots of our album..

p.s. also want to thank my dear friend ailian, for changing her flight schedule to attend my rom.. truly appreciate it.. hope she will get a place soon.. thanks babe, hugs!