Cheese Bundt Chiffon Cake

Would you believe me if I had told you this was a very easy cake?

And if like normal people, you're a cheese lover, you might want to go crazy on the topping.

This is the second best way to get kids to love you. The first would be crispy fried chicken. Yea, i know how to get me some of that lurvin.

This recipe might surprise you but it'll get you some of that velvety smooth, melt-in-the-mouth, overly-cheesy cheese cake!

Lurvin,

Jes

Ps: Ovalette is a stabiliser for chiffon cakes, you can substitute it with same amount of condensed milk. 

Birthday Cake

Every once in a while, i would try my best to make someone happy. 

I cooked my mom a full pasta meal when i was merely 10 years old.

I would drop little trails of (eherm) pixie dust to a birthday present. 

I was very much reprimanded in both occasions. 

As i remember, it was "not pixie dust".

 My little "happy" giveaways never end beautifully.

Soon enough (about 10 years), I stopped trying.

 Then, i met you.

You fell asleep.

Yes, my little "happy" treats never end successfully. 

But this cake was delicious. 

Tres Leche Cake - Birthday Post

Dear 30-year-old me,

In the afternoons that you think back about me (hopefully a girl less awkward than you are now), what will you recall? Will you remember the times you tried using "the force" and was caught focusing to move a piece of paper? Or will you recall the time when 5 horses had to wait whilst you negotiate with Ms Celestine to stop eating the grass?

You've been through a lot, Ms 30-year-old. Mostly, involving moments you wish you had wiser judgement, better yet, you wish you had MIB's neuralyzer. You also wish that your friends had informed you about laughing like a black boar gasping for air. Or pulling off a green afro or cat ears.

However, Ms 30-year-old, these awkward moments are moments you should cherish. They are the moments you are at ease, moments you let go of your guard and moments when you are truest to yourself. You share these moments with people who won't leave you despite your "reasonable" nature or your 3 layers of tummy fat.

Then, there are other moments. These are the moments you regret. They are moments when you lie to yourself (convincing yourself that 3 slices of cake is rational). Moments you sacrifice others for yourself. These are moments you should have to pay for but you were let off with kindness. These are the moments to guide you. 

Sweet Potato Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

It's Miss Wu's birthday. 

Although it was on the 16th of April, it's never too late to bake her a cake and have it all to myself?! As a present, I'm giving her my fat tummy!

Miss Wu brings people together with a simple wave of her magic wand, sexy-as-hell bodz and her cooking is crap-on-a-fricking-cracker-marvelous. Although currently living her life in London, failing to mail me a can of snow, I still love her very much!

Ms Wu always exaggerates my desserts and exaggerates me as a person. She even admitted that I make her life beautiful and special. How can I not be smittened. 

So, I baked her a Purple Sweet Potato Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Recipe from bon appetit at Epicurious, adapted by moi.

The cake is beautiful on its own. Cinnamon tackles the potatoey feel of the cake (feel free to use other spices). The color, enchanting, like yours truly. BUT lets take it up a notch! My go-to cream cheese frosting by Janni from Allrecipes, adapted by moi.

I finally found a full-fat tub of yoghurt. Big difference, please use full-fat.

So let's all wish a happy birthday to my dearest friend, Ms Wu!

Happy Birthday my dear,

Jesica

Pink Ombre Layer Cake - Another Birthday Post

 Happy Birthday, Christina.

To be honest, when I first came back after my time abroad, I was afraid. Afraid how I would settle in, afraid of what's different and what's new, afraid how i need to re-connect with my "old" friends.

 They were the people I spend my every days with. We'd be in school together, have our lunch together, shop together and hang out every weekend together. However, as I left for my commerce degree, we started to grow apart. The years I've missed are the very years they needed someone. The years I was away were the very years our characters were built. We've changed. I've changed.

Yet, as gentle as they were, it was as if i've never left. They welcomed me. No awkwardness, no ice breakers, no need for hugs or tears, it was just the way it has been and should be. 

Specially to C. We've confide in each other, we've shared our moments, played mean pranks to one another (maybe that's just her), embarrass one another (again, just her) and had too much fun and laughs (maybe just me).

As she goes through her toughest points in life alone, I could only bit my lips and curse the people who made it hard for her. But not anymore. C, amongst the presents and cakes you've received today, my utmost present for you is. 

"A true friend is one who stays through trials of deserts and storms"

Six Layer Chocolate Rum Cake with Swiss Meringue Rum Buttercream

Have you ever thought of being a little kid again? Where days went by without you worrying about what's going to your hips and thighs. Where running around 5 minutes made you perspire like 45 minutes extreme yoga. Where eating 2 slices of cake was "awww, so cute".

I do. A lot. You would know that exact second when I decide to indulge my inner child. Especially when i proclaim random resolutions like "I ain't sharin' my burger!" or "All meat no vege!" or "I'm eating straight from the pot!" Unfortunately, I kid not.

That's where the 6-layer cake comes in. And the rum...is just to congratulate us for getting over being a 5 year old. The cake I was looking for is a "black" cake. When I was searching for "the" recipe, I go to my favourite cake site and found this. However, things seemed a little too professional. Hence, I went to my new favourite site and found this same recipe. Who could resist challenging themselves, when 2 trusted individuals have tried-tested the recipe. 

Mango sponge mousse layer cake

 There were a few stories I had in mind for this post

One, was how this doesn't fit in with the fall/thanksgiving/halloween mood everyone else is experiencing. Two, was how much I love reading other fellow (not-to-mention superior) food bloggers! Hence, seeing as everyone is with their apples, cobblers and puddings, let's do something different here in the tropical country! Three, was the vast number of Mango cakes sold in every cake store, yet not too many a solid recipe posted on the internet. Thus,  my believe that my friend is out to test me and my skills.

Then I chose this story. A story of what i've gotten myself into when i decided i was able to bake layered cakes. Frostings! Frostings! Frostings! I love simple frosted cakes. Those with 7 different types of fruits and 8 different piping methods, they're not my cup of coffee. Most likely because I love cream but I know they're bad (for my hips) and so my conscience tells me that cream tastes bad. And remember how i suck at frosting?! I still do. But i ain't givin' up.

 My point is, I don't really have one. The reason for this blog was just to journalise what i've accomplished, do what i've been loving to do, pursuing to be what i want to be. Conquering each and every ingredient possible (not a fan of mango mousse or mango cake- purely under the request of a friend) and meanwhile, if i'm able to meet some new friends, and make the old ones go gaga, wouldn't that just be a treat?!

Rainbow Cake

One week ago, I came home after a tiring day at work only to be greeted with "I want a rainbow cake!". Not to get excited with myself, i asked my beloved sister "Where should i order?" 

It was always like that between me and my sister. We are so different that we meet each other at the other end of the circle. Preparing to fail, I decided not to tell her about baking this cake and booked another cake from a local bakery. The process was worthy of comment, rushing to bake and cool 6 layers of cakes, rushing to take pictures of the process and rushing to clean up any visible detail of colorful mess.

 We successfully hid it for one day only to be found out the next day, during the icing process. I could see it in her eyes, maybe for a millisecond, she was shocked, a little pleasantly surprised (if I'm up for it) and that was all I needed. I was content. Until i horribly failed my icing, 3 times, that is (details will be hidden very well down the sink).

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake - Nigella Lawson (adapted)

This is how it's going to be, what i'm going to tell you is totally in confidence. (The fact that this is on internet doesn't help my point but i would hope as time goes by, nobody will remember this.) My sister has an event to go to. She was going to bring some Konyaku Jelly and some Fried indonesian snacks. Then i asked, "do you want me to bake something for you?" Of course she said no. I became gloomy and soon enough, the words coming across the table was "PLEASE LET ME BAKE FOR YOU!". Alright, i know this is pathetic but my need to feed people just runs one level above all the shame and embarrassment I'm going to get for this.

 If you understand how i felt, please continue reading. If you don't, you can skip one sentence. This sentence.

After relentlessly annoying my sister, she finally said yes. Then my heart skipped a beat. "CRAP ON A CRACKER, what should i bake". No cookies, no muffins, no safety net baking goods (well amongst the things going across the table, i may have said "COOKIES, MUFFINS? ANYTHING, PLEASE, I'll give you a lollipop". Okay, before i move forward, i should say do not try this at home but I baked a chocolate cake I have never baked before. 

 This post would have turned out horrendous if the cake did not turn out well. However, the brave and annoying side of me decided to test the world, challenge life, go against gravity or whatever you call it. 

Bringing a cake to an event that needs to impress my sis & her friends.... I decided to wager:

1. The new food processor.

2. The tweaked untested chocolate cake recipe 

3. The uncertainty of both the above.

 Back to the cake. Once i was sure i wanted to bake a "whole" cake, i know it has to be a simple simple chocolate cake. Then i thought, what's better than those from Nigella Lawson's quick and yet "old-fashioned" recipe? If you've known me better, i'm easily attracted to the words: Authentic, old-fashioned, rustic, traditional and... you get my point. The tweaked recipe has 2x more liquid and less sugar. It was my decision, out of fear, after hearing those dry flaky reviews regarding the recipe.

Red Velvet Cupcake

When did cupcakes become the craze of every town? It's not McDonald's every 2 steps of the way down the street. It's no longer 3 Tiered cakes baked a month in advance laid out in a wedding ceremony. Those Beautifully adorned, colorful, soft and yummy to-an-extent cupcakes that has taken over the era, terrorizing the village, BoomBaDaBoom.

It has evolved into the perfect gift for a sick friend, a valentine's present for the cute boyfriend, a welcome back party dessert, or just the occasional binge solution. Of course, it all started with Red Velvet Cupcakes (it is the most popular one, and never would a cupcake store fail to include one in their inconclusive number of flavors to pick from). 

Would a cupcake taste better than a comprehensive slice of the original recipe? No. It is adding different flavors to the same batter to barely tap on the richness of the actual creation. Why is it then, such a crowd pleaser? One small box could contain four flavors of different cakes. Who would not cut such a deal?

I would have to say, I've fallen for the trick first hand. Hence, many many bakers try to incorporate as much of the originality to every cup, discerning stores that stand out from stores that do not. Beautifully, Red Velvet is one of those that do not fall far from the cake itself. After all, it is simple and red.