My brother is officially engaged!

after all the hard work (for the hantaran/engagement offerings) I'm almost done...i can't say that i'm done coz still have the wedding offering/hantaran to do...I'm also officially out of ideas...my friends told me to just buy the karangkraf's book but i think its not really worth it coz its just a one time use its waste of money so then they suggested to me since i'm too 'tangkai jering' to to buy a book to surf the net to search for ideas...and i did that but i didn't find any good ones that i can replicate or sumthing...our wedding reception theme is in alge green, i personally could not and not in a million years could pull that color off due to my olive skin tone. But my sister in law to be is very fair she looks like a pan asian i dunno if her mom is an 'ang mo' i never met her as she passed away for quite sometime now (it was said that she have a remarkable resemblance of her mother) then again come to think of it her dad also looked mixed i dunno...*pondering*

Anyway we made our way to her house at aroung 2:45pm with a convoy of 5 cars but with our POOR organization skills we accidently left our photographer behind...my dad forgot to inform him the plan (actually he forgot about me too until i called him in the middle of the way) so in the middle of the road, actually half way through he then remembered the photographer and by the time the photographer had called me that he failed to follow our cars as we were VERY VERY fast (couln't blame him coz our families were driving a BMW and a Merc and a Perdana where as he was driving a satria) my ad as usually find fault and conviniently blame me for the unfortunate mistake (well i honestly think its everyone fault, me i sort of forgot about him as we were busy trying to sort who should be in what car etc). But all ends well as the bride to be house is not that hard to find, the photographer got there in time.

as for future sister in law, i must comment on her make up. i just can't leave that alone...before that my future sister in law's name is Wena. Wena, she's a natural beauty and i personally she did not need much make up on her face. her theme of the day was pink, her dress was pink and her make up was P.I.N.K. very pink and to me it made her look hard almost like a drag queen. I do not blame her for the make up but i hsssssss~ the make up artist who oddly is a women wannabe (usually this nyah have a good sense of make up) i pitty her laaa but luckly she didn't look alll that bad in the picture but i surely think that she could look better *argh~ if only her lipstick is a softer pink and the blusher is alot less pink*

oh yaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~ i have a nother story about the offering...remember that i was supposed to make a beautiful fondant cake topped with hand made sugar paste roses (which i'm already made earlier)? yeah i was trying to make the fondant and it turned out hard! then i started to panicked so i chucked it out and think what could have been wrong? i double checked the formula its all in order, ingredients, methods environment...(yeah environment does effect the out come of the fondant) everything seems to be in order. Hubby was also amazed that the fondant harden so quickly and cracked just before i try to assemble on the beautifully made cake (wah nih puji diri sendiri nih) then i remember this time around i bought the pre packed icing sugar in a bakery shop instead of the usual PRAI brand that i used. then it immideatly struck me , the only other reason is the icing sugar probably the icing sugar have a high content corn starch mixture (coz some brand does mix the two so i find PRAI is the best for fondant) i actually made twice and all turned out hard i then panically call my mom and told her that i can't make the cake. then my mom calmly told me "its OK" and i was like huh? " yeah since the other day you told me that you may not be able be making the cake coz of the children being sick, i've made a backup plan. I've ordered a stamed layered cake from my indonesian friend" waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~ my mom so efficient got plan B summore... well i told her that i can always use other icing;buttercream, chocolate ganache etc but she said no need coz handling will be very hard the layered cake will be simpler. true enuf. so thats the story of my cake but non the less i iced them with butter cream anyway coz i didn't want it to go to waste and serve it the next day for the convoy group.

the cake is not the only thing i baked, i also baked a strawberry pie fro the hantaran. and it turned out beautifully....i will not post the recipe for this coz its the same recipe as the fruit tart/pie in my previous post (you like, check it out) the only diff is the fruit topping...
Those are the hantaran that i made...i actually have the individual pictures but i think it'll be one too many hantaran pictures don't you think? (i got 7 dulang you know meaning 7 pictures)
that's me and my baby girl alya; getting ready to go to Pandan Indah...
Iklan jap...if you like my make up it was by Inovi...you can get it @ sasa or at their boutique in Sunway Piramid. =p
this is basically how the malay engagement look like (it took place at the bride to be house) the hantaran are placed in the middle where everyone can see, the front row of the hantaran is the Sirih & Pinang, this is important as it represent as a symbol of engagement (meminang)

That's my cute future sister in law in pink...sorry i dun have a clear picture for now as i took this picture via my phone so....go figure~


and here is the supposed to be a fondant cake but NOW a buttercreamed cake...(ahh~ saved by the bell)

Fondant vs Gum Paste

ever since i post the gum paste cuppies...i've been showered with some emails asking me about the difference between fondant and gum paste/sugar paste. Well i will answer your question once and for all...

Fondant is:

1. what you use to cover your cake with. a sort of icing, you may flavor it as you wish but be sure to use quality food flavorings or you'll end up ruin your fondant.
2. yes you may flavor your fondant
3. You can cover your cake with it maximum 2 days in advance until the day of the event (remember fondant is a heavy icing choose your type of cake wisely and any longer you'll risk of the cake collapsing btw cake usually last for 3 days anyway so...)
4. you may use fondant as decorations example like edible ribbons, skirting/garret (is that how you spell it?)
5. you may make flowers using fondant but add in some gum paste into the mixture so that it could dry and harden well.
6. but bare in mind that fondant will not go as hard unlike gumpaste.

Gum Paste/Sugar Paste:

1. is what you use to make all sorts of flowers and decoration pallet/disk (like one i did for the fish cuppies)
   
2. you DO NOT use this to cover your cake as this is not its intended use
3. dry better
4. can roll it thinner for the flower petals so it'll look more realistic.(but i like making ribbon roses instead its perfect for lazy people like me!)
5. will dry and go hard

so pendek kata (in short) you use fondant as icing and gum paste for the decorations...

Wedding Blues...

to think only the bride n groom to be have the wedding blue? think again...people around them too get the blues especially those who'll be planning the wedding, parents and of course not to mention those who's still single and hoping...aii~ i think i'm having the blues not because i'm single but b'coz i'm planning the wedding and will be doing most of the preparation hands on...then again maybe the word 'blues' is not entirly appropriate*pondering* i think panic is more appropriate in this situation now...

My mom handed me several improtant job for this wedding. oh btw its my brother's wedding...anyway my jobs are:

1. prepare and decorate the hantaran for both engagement and wedding
2. to make the hantaran cake and sweet desserts - i haven't decide which to make; fondant 1.5kg cake or fondant mini cakes or cuppies which is sort of a trend right now....but i've already have the 'concept' and the sugar paste flowers made...
3. be the make up artist for the wedding - *lol* suprised???this is not a new thing for me as i was (yes WAS) a make up artist and i used to work in a cosmetic company..only now i'm 'retired', baking is my new found passion...
4. in charge of the wedding favors which they haven't decide wether to have decorated cuppies or simply sourviniers
5. find and book the wedding photographer
   

Yesterday i have officially finished decorating the engagement hantaran all 7 of them..(banyak kan?) that was a huge relief but i still have the cake and a fruit tart to make...argh...this is what stressing me out... but today i have just finished making the sugar paste roses for the engaement cake...i'm happy today *yeay* i'm half way there already...

MidNIGHT snack

this is the underused bread maker its still new, i got it thru my bonuslink card redemption

you know....last night hubby was hungry and i was not feeling very well (plus i was busy blogging =p) i have no mood for cooking in the middle of the night (come on its almost past midnight already at the time..gimme a break!) he was like little mouse trying to search for some food or any left overs and apparently we were out of bread, fruits, or any snacks to binge on (my new policy no snacks for my new so called diet program ) *lol* so hubby desprately asked me for our bread maker - i had this since last year but i dunno how to use it tried to make some breads but didn't turned out right i ended up making it old school each time! (i followed the instructions but i just dun understand it...somebody teach me PLEASE!) so i told him that its in the far behind the depth of my cubboard storage hheeh~(oh the dissapointment...~)

and hubby make a small loaf for him to snack on! and this is from someone who ALWAYS refuse to even try to cook even when i was really really sick and suprisingly it turned out better than i had ever tried in that bread maker...

funny thing is that the bread texture is nothing like bread instead its more like a cake! non the less the taste is alright - edible! that important... so for this VERY VERY RARE occassion i took the liberty to take a picture of his 'achivement' of making the cake like bread *lol*

it does look like cake right??

Blueberry muffins

lately I've been craving for blueberry muffins (its actually ever since i started researching for 'hantaran' cake just for some reason blueberry muffin came to mind). I never really am a fan of blueberry but somehow rather i still get the craving <---does that make any sense? i dunno anyway i was up early today coz its my boy's 1st day to school (he's only 3 years old) he was surely excited to go to school coz he'll be wearing new uniforms, school bag, shoes...so i thought of making muffins and i see the opportunity to bake blueberry muffins as i 'coincidently' bought a pack of blueberries BUT i have no recipe for it, it was already 7:30am at the time i have no time to search any cook books or the net (yeah my desk top is ancient and take its very own SWEET time to start which ultimately why i blog so "often") so i simply put what ever i want in it and hope that it'll rise *lol* in lay term i 'taram'/'tibai' the recipe but to my suprise it turned out great. the muffin if very filling and not too sweet as i use fresh fruits - you may add more sugar if you like it sweet but this recipe is for me to keep, we (me n the entire Fathil's clan) LOVE it just the way it is. you'll need: (a) 11/2c flour 1/2tsp salt 2tsp baking powder 2/4c granulated sugar (b) 1 egg 1/3c milk 1/3c vegetable oil 1tsp vanilla essence (c) blueberries

1. preheat oven at 180c. line buttered and floured muffin pan
   
2. combine (a) and whick until well mixed, set a side
3. mix (b) them gradually add in (a) mix until well combine
4. lastly fold in (c). Use ice cream scoop to neatly drop batter into muffin pan/tray

if you like cumbs onto of your muffin take 1/2cup sugar, 1/3cup flour, 1/4cup cold butter and a dash of cinnamon powder if you like. mix them all with pastry cutter or if you don't have one fork will do the trick, mix them until it resemble a corse crumbs then sprinkle on top of your muffins before you bake.

I skip the crumb-ing routine coz apparently i'm out of butter heheh~

I'll post the picture later as my ancient PC is on 'strike' it keeps hanging for God know what reason...i can barely post this entry *long sigh~*

Rice Pudding

I was watching AFC the other day and there was a talk about rice pudding on how to cook, how to impart the flavor, that its a great comfort food etc...i never had rice pudding before even when i was studying in the UK . i was curious but never had a chance to try one before so i really dunno whats the fuss about rice pudding so i decided to make some to try and appreciate the filling comfort food.

I've made a chocolate rice pudding with almond flakes. it turned out beautifully but not picture perfect i have to say coz i made it at night as i was craving for something sweetand filling at the time. its easy to make, great tasting and fills you up in no time (eh what do you expect its rice, its supposed to fill you up) any way..here's what you need..

1/3 of short grain rice or Japanese rice <--coz its starchy 1c of milk 1c of water 30-50g of dark chocolate (this actually really is up to you if you want vanilla you can omit this) 2-3tbs brown sugar - more if you like it really sweet. a pinch of salt 1 egg yolk

1. heat water and milk until slightly simmer
2. meanwhile wash the rice and soak it a little then add in the milk mixture
3. let it cook for a while. once its starts boiling add in a pinch of salt. let it cook for 15 minutes
   
4. then the water and milk will starts to thicken a little add in the chocolate stir until its completely melted.
5. then add in sugar and let it cook for another 15minutes or so.
6. once its done the texture should be thick and the rice is cooked thoroughly remove from fire let it cool slightly then add in the yolk stir well. the heat of the rice will gently cook the yolk. this will give the pudding a custard consistency.
   
7. serve it in a ramekin hot or cold its to your fancy...
   

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I haven't been blogging for quite sometime now and it's already NEW YEAR! so i'm taking this opportunity to wish all my fellow bloggers and recipe seekers a very happy new year and may you keep your resolution this 2009 =p. Speaking of resolution, i've been pondering about it ever since my birthday..about my pass resolution and the current resolution and you know what after all those years i think i've only manage to keep very few resolution and my 08 resolution i failed to keep...well its a hard one for me my previous resolution was to be my slander self again which was hard as i L>O>V>E cooking and baking then i gave birth to my baby girl so you can see there's alot of eating going on through out the year...i didn't gain much during the pragnancy but then again i was already 'fat' when i conceived (look at that i'm calling myself fat...now thats the first!) you see after giving birth to my 1st child i never did recover from my so called baby fat then when i was 'almost' loosing it i got pregnant again...

and i know many of us women with larger figure or dare i say 'volupcious'? are having hard time fitting in with the stick thin society...not to say that we 'are' living in the stick thin society per say but who are we kidding? all the good clothes are in size 8 the largest would be size 12 in translation its only available in SML sizes if lucky you'll have XL but rarely. am i right??? and sometime they even have XS and petite! what was that all about?? if we're not living in the 'stick thin' society then i dunno whats the sizes for? i mean what ever happen to XL, XXL the other sizes like 14,16,18...? do we not exist? our choise is only Mrs READ or Xtention or Total women which by the way are most of the time did not flatter out body! and the pressure to be thin is always there...

and for those with 'loose words' please think before you speak coz words are sharper than the knife. Do you ever get people telling you ' oh its been long time you look 'prosperous' ' (and by God they don't mean that you look rich but FAT!) or you look bigg-ER, huge etc...i get that all the time my realtive and unfortunately friends too have a feast making fun of my size and i would usually brush them off by making ackward jokes and laughing it off..but deep down inside it hurts. doesn't it even matter to them that i'm happy...at all? *long sigh*

anyway..through out the year i somehow magically manage to loose about 3kgjust by not really eating during weekdays and i only eat my children's leftovers... and i 'eat' when eating out during weekends. it sounds pathetic but its only because i was lazy to cook for 1 person...sooo back to my resolution ...my '09 resolution is to be Happy with who i am no matter what AND to start my own restaurant take out business....

Sorry about the ramblings...just gotta let it out of my chest..HAPPY NEW YEAR!