Blackforest Cake

This was a super long overdue post, I actually had great photos taken by *hubs* for this cake....was too busy to transfer the photos from the desktop at home. It took me two days to bake and decorate the cake. Oh ok...not two whole days, but two whole evenings.

The recipe below, was taken from one of those baking magazine...err, can't remember exactly which celebrity chef it was..yeah, I did not want to buy the magazine just for the sake of this recipe. Already had a number of baking books, but this recipe was simple enough for me to want to make this cake. Credits to the chef....I love your recipe!



I omitted the blueberry filling though, added some cherry syrup to compensate for it. The cake turned out to be moist and tasted just like the store bought ones...hehe...sis said that it's the best tasting and best looking cake of all the ones I've been making. Actually, a number of them turned out to be a disaster...one was too sweet, others were too dense, too oily, too blend and too crumbly.

Also opted to use fresh cherries instead of glazed ones for a more natural flavour. But, the fresh cherries were sour and so expensive...will have to use glazed ones next time.....

A slice of blackforest cake anyone?

Failed Mission

I have been working in the same company for almost 4 years now. Yeah, it's a bit too short of a time to complain but I AM SO BORED! Don't get me wrong, we have work...in fact plenty of work. Just that I don't have the mood and encouragement to continue working here anymore. I NEED A NEW JOB!

"My Unruly Desk"

I have a mission when I first joined the company. I wanted only to work here for 3 years, get the experience and go on to look for a better company with better benefits. By the way, this company which I've been working for is one of those "China man's". I am not complaining much, but aiming for a company which provide better benefits is my mission. What happens if I have kids later? I need a company which extends medical benefits to my children too. Currently, we are able to visit our panel clinics for up to a maximum of RM150 per year ONLY, which translates to about 4 times of a GP visit. Further to that, we need to bear the additional cost for any single visit amounting to more than RM35. Sucks, huh?

The work here is not monotonous, but neither is it challenging enough. I salute those people who can actually stay in the same company for the rest of their working life. Must be the colleagues which in time become friends, i think.

I have been hunting for a new job for quite some time now. But, every time I flip through the papers, I can't seem to find a job that I would like to apply for. Those which I've applied, there were no response. I am probably not aggressive enough while following up on my job applications. Oh well, it seems that I am not putting enough effort into looking for a new job. Sounds more like "I don't want to work"....hehe...

Anyhow, I still need to work. Money is the biggest reason of all. Need money for everything, the house, food, car, parents, bills and later kids! If anyone would care to recommend me a better job...sigh.....

The Real Hanoi

Been away for the past couple of weeks. Busy with work again...as much as I'd like to write but just couldn't find the time and energy to. Wish I could write more as it eases my mind and make me happy while looking at the photos on my blog. Yeah, although the photos are of lousy quality, I'd like to think more of it as remembrance rather than art.

I've manage to capture a few pictures of Hanoi during my work session in Hanoi. It's a pretty decent place to visit should you like french buildings and would like to know more about the
Vietnamese culture.

Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. I've always thought that Ho Chi Minh was the capital. But no, Hanoi being not only the capital is a major tourist attraction.





























The hotel was good although just a budget one at about USD35/night.















The people are friendly and accommodating but only a few speak and understand English. Instead, we had to learn a few Vietnamese language to be able to move around and order some food. The hotel of course is the best place to ask for help when you are in need.



























No, food is not cheap. A bowl of rice noodle (like koay tiao soup here) cost as much as USD1.5 minus the comfort of sitting in a proper restaurant. Yes, these plastic/wooden chairs or tables and kind of hygiene are what you'll get. But definitely the local taste, which is light and healthy. The better restaurants cost whey more without the actual Vietnamese feel.

This was called Brittle Fried Noodle. I was expecting a plate of noodles and it turned out I got some crunchy fried flour (taste a little like 'taupok') with lots of 'choi sam' and some beef. Taste was good no doubt but it was more like a snack rather than a meal.

'Siu Chow'

There's this food court close to my office where we have our lunch. The variety is not that good and most stalls tend to come and go. This particular 'siu chow' stall however, is a big hit....they provide decent dishes for a reasonable price of RM 5.50. Everyone seems to be ordering from them even though they know that they'll have to wait.

I, on the other hand did not favour this stall. Not because they are no good. But rather because they don't have an English menu. I can't read Chinese, duh.....I could only order 'kung po har ko' and 'pai kuat wong' from what I hear others order. If someone could translate what they have here, or at least give me some suggestions on what else I could order : )

Dining Set

Finally got our dining set....no more meals on the floor! ....except for the occasional snack in front of our TV, erm...I mean PC.

Table from red apple and chairs, IKEA.


Matches our wall, eh? Check out the bottom interior of the table, stainless steel bars to support the tempered glass top or was it just design? Anyway, we love it!

The Tie That Binds - Kent Haruf

Bought this book on a warehouse sale, I think it was Popular, or was it Times? Wasn't looking for a specific title or author. Just love books. Anyway, did not expect it to be such an encouraging book (very much worth the price I paid).

The book really does explains the title. Ties. If you're one of those who thinks that you have a lousy family or that your parents and siblings are unlike family to you at all, then this is a good book to read.

I would think that most parents or more specifically fathers are not like one in this fiction. But what matters is that how his daugther could endure her entire life with such a father, sacrifying her own life and yet provides love and happiness for others.

Definitely a recommended read!

No Bake Granny Apple Cheesecake

Had 3 small Granny Apples left in my fridge and did not know else what to do with them. Been drinking apple juice for the past 2 weeks...yeah, they were too sour to eat, had to mix with some carrot juice.

Mum's birthday was around the corner and I've always wanted to make her a non-bake cheesecake. Just didn't know what flavour to do, already made blueberry, strawberry and Oreos....wanted to try something new. Found a recipe online but it was with eggs and ground cinnamon....didn't want any of these in the cake so I omitted them and modified the recipe a little...Granny Apple Cheesecake

Crust:
6 pieces Digestive biscuits
1/4 cup peanut butter, melted

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix well. Press firmly into a 8-inch springform pan( I used loose bottom type). Chill for 1 hour.

Apple-Cheese Filling:
1 tbsp gelatine
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tbsp icing sugar
1/2 cup low fat milk
1 tablespoon lemon juice
500 gms Philly cream cheese
100 gms non diary whipped cream
2 large Granny Smith apples, pared, cored
and chopped into cubes (2 cups)

In a medium saucepan, combine gelatine with 1/2 cup sugar. Stir in milk and lemon juice. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wire whisk, until gelatine dissolves. Remove from heat.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in gelatine mixture. Stir in apple cubes. Chill, stirring occasionally, until mixture mounds slightly when dropped from a spoon.

In a small bowl, whip non diary cream with icing sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold into apple-cheese mixture. Pour into prepared pan. Chill overnight or 8 to 12 hours until firm.

The cake turned out to be a bit wobbly, tasted weird at first (first time tasting chilled apple cheesecake, not sure what to compare to) but the recipe's definitely a keeper.