Friday, September 19, 2008

4 Pudings for Break Fasting

Heloo to All my muslim friends, bloggers.. How's your fasting going? I hope it's all good.. Same here, I always enjoy (love-actually) when it comes to Ramadhan month. Seems like everything turns peacefully, eventhough the traffic is NOT.. I guess It becomes more and more insane!!!..Specially after office hour.. It's like everyone try to run as fast as they could to get home before Maghrib time, so they could break fasting at Home with their family..

Orange Mousse Puding

Lucky me (to be precised-I'm Blessed), I don't have to go out to office or came home while everyone's also trying to get home from office.. While, I'm working at home :) Yes, my office is at home. Looking back 4 years before I was in the middle of that traffic jam also, trying to get home as soon as I could..(which was soo rare being home on time).. I'm so Thankful and Blessed that I don't have to be stuck on that 'traffic jam' anymore.. ^_^

Mocca Mousse Puding with Chocolate Vla

Anyway, Nini (my working partner) has this tradition each year, sending some finger foods or 'jajanan pasar' to our client for their break fasting. This time, we'll do it different. Since I'm into baking now, instead of buyingI'm gonna do our own dessert for them.

Almond Puding with Fruit Coctail

I had this book 'all about Puding' and looks all so refreshing! Wanted to try it one by one, so I decided to make one or two from the recipe. Also, since I'm joining this Culinary Group called NCC-Indonesia, I also make one of the most favorite puding (Almond Puding) which I got the recipe from NCC's site.

Mocca Mousse Puding with Vanilla Vla

I made 4 kinds of Puding:
  • Orange Mousse Puding with Vanilla Vla
  • Almond Puding with Fruit Coctail
  • Mocca Mousse Puding with Vanilla Vla
  • Mocca Mousse Puding with Chocolate Vla
I went to bought this glass at nearest Bake Shop, which I thought would be perfect for the Puding. Each recipe could fit into 12 glasses, which is good. Turns out I love making Puding! Gonna do other flavor next time.

All Pudings - so refreshing!

Enjoy Break Fasting everyone :)

Friday, August 15, 2008

I [heart] Red & White - Celebrating 63 Years of Independence


Last time I browsed to my friend's blog and I saw this Red & White Event's Logo..suddenly I was thinking that it would be fun if I could participate on it as well. The rules are anything that has Red & White on it, whether it's food, stylist, food photography anything that has creative idea on it just bring it on (as it said). Not long after.. happened I found this recipe, a Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting which I thought straight away, this would be puuurrrfect cake to get into the theme. So I made a preparation to bake and take the photo after. This time I wanna make sure everything has well prepared and I'll do it ontime..unlike some contest I most likely did it in last minute :( But from now on, I promise to myself to get organized and be ontime :D

I'm still new in baking and food photography, but yet I could feel the love straight away while taking pics in my very unspacious studio (as writen on previous 'My Studio odong-odong'). Still, as a melancholy I've always tried to make a good photo shoot (in my opinion) and learning from many blogs that have awesome cake, food and food photography as my reference.


I made this cake with no problem at all, since the ingredients not that hard to find. But the hardest part is to get the red color I wanted. Thank God for Wilton's Red Xmas Color, it turns out brilliant after it was baked. The color stands out just what I've expected! So I made it as a 20cm cake and also cup cakes. After it's been decorated put it straight away to the fridge and next day will be a photo session day.

Since I'm only using a daylight as lighting source, so here's the problem. Couple days, afternoon turns to dawn really quick because of the cloudy weather. Practically I get a minim sun light and my best time to take photo when it's afternoon. Wouldn't want to give up too soon, I end up collecting my tea light candles as an alternative lighting. However, turns out I'm having fun while taking the photo. And the good thing is I could make such experiment with it and love how the glow was captured.


After different kind of pose (the photo session took 2 days), and different kind of props, angle, I couldn't decide which I'm gonna submit haha..Isn't that obvious? Couldn't decide which one is the best (again, in my opinion). Hoping that at least 2 photos could be submitted is only a hope, so I decided to enter this photo to the event.


Simply because it's captured the Red and White theme, clean look but yet still festive. Oh ya, the Cream Cheese Frosting stayed very well in the room temperature for 30 minutes (more), specially when it placed very close to the heat from candles and that's why I love using this brand so so much (Bakers Mix) when it comes to Whipped Cream. I had so much fun taking the photos and the best part after is, enjoying the cake while I'm writing this report with a chill starbucks frappucino.

Merdeka Indonesia-ku. Happy 63 Years of Independence!

Monday, August 11, 2008

Broccoli with Mushroom and Beef Sesame

Steamed Rice, Beef Sesame topped with Broccoli & Mushroom

Another post beside cakes! Yey! Last weekend I cooked simple dishes for my hubby and son. I love broccoli a lot. Whether it's cooked or just steamed, I love it both. My son like it too, except part of being steamed only :(. The weirdest thing is when he saw a 'green' veggies, he straight away feel like vomiting, but it didn't matter if he ate it! How weird is that? Same thing if he saw garlic (in the middle of dishes), or something that small and black in the food. He told me that somehow he thinks about 'cockroach' after he saw small and black things... Oh my..Kids with their 1001 reasons and yet we (parents) should be able to understand that always..haha..^_^


Anyway, here's Broccoli & Mushroom with Oyster Sauce. Right now I'm so addicted to Sesame Oil. so I cooked the beef with Hoysin Sauce and Sesame Oil. I just love simple recipe!

BROCCOLI & MUSHROOM with OYSTER SAUCE
(in Bahasa Indonesia)

BAHAN:
  • 1 Brokoli (medium), cuci dan keringkan
  • 1 pak Jamur jenis apa aja, cuci dan keringkan
  • (rebus ke-duanya di air mendidih skitar 1 menit, angkat & tiriskan)
  • 3 siung bawang putih, geprek dan potong cincang
  • 2 sdm Oyster sauce
  • 1 sdm Kecap manis
  • 1 sdt garam
  • 1 sdt gula
  • lada secukupnya
  • 1 sdt tepung maizena cairkan dengan air panas
  • air matang secukupnya
  • Minyak utk memasak



CARANYA:
  1. Panaskan minyak di wajan, lalu masukkan bawang putih tumis hingga harum
  2. Masukkan brokoli dan jamur, tumis sebentar lalu tambahkan garam, gula, dan lada.
  3. Masukkan Oyster sauce dan kecap manis, aduk hingga rata, tambahkan sedikit air lalu tutup sebentar kira2 1 menit saja.
  4. Buka penutup, masukkan cairan tepung maizena, aduk hingga rata hingga agak mengental.
  5. Angkat, taruh dalam piring. Sajikan hangat.


BEEF SLICES with HOYSIN Sauce & SESAME Oil
(in Bahasa Indonesia)

BAHAN:
  • 300 gr beef stir fry, potong lagi dadu
  • 3 siung bawang putih, geprek lalu cincang
  • 1 jahe, cincang
  • 3 cabe merah keriting, potong silang (additional)
  • 2 sdm hoysin sauce
  • 2 sdm sesame oil
  • 1 sdt biji white sesame
  • 1 sdt garam
  • 1 sdt gula
  • lada secukupnya
  • air panas secukupnya
  • 1 sdt tepung maizena cairkan dgn air panas
  • Minyak untuk memasak

CARANYA:
  1. Panaskan minyak di wajan lalu masukkan bawang putih dan jahe. Tumis hingga harum.
  2. (jika memakai cabai merah, tumis bersamaan dengan bawang dan jahe hingga cabai layu)
  3. Masukkan daging, taburi garam, gula dan lada. Aduk dan masak hingga berubah warna.
  4. Masukkan saus sesame, diikuti dengan hoisin, aduk hingga rata.
  5. Jika perlu tambahkan air sedikit lalu tutup wajan supaya bumbu meresap dan daging lebih empuk.
  6. Setelah daging empuk, masukkan cairan maizena, aduk hingga saus menjadi kental.
  7. Angkat, taruh di piring, taburi wijen putih. Sajikan hangat.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Raspberry Jelly


Made a Raspberry Jelly for an afternoon refreshment. I used Raspberry Jello pack and mixed with crushed fresh raspberry (no sugar added as it was already sweet). Final touch, whipped a raspberry mousse and put some fresh raspberry on top.


It's so easy to make. Taste sweet and sour just what I like. Eat straight away from the fridge..sooo refreshing! :D

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Chocolate Melted Cake with Raspberry

Chocolate Melted Cake with Raspberry

Last time me and Nini went to Senayan City and had this cake in one of cafe there. It's chocolate cake layers with chocolate mousse and has a raspberry hint inside of it. Taste wise it's good! I like the combination of chocolaty and the sourness from the fruit. It's weird that the combination actually works!

Killing my boredom from working (coz tomorrow is a holiday yeeyy..) I quickly ran to the kitchen and start making a cake based on that taste. Huh? ya ya.. it's one of my advantage being able to work from home, so you could do anything on your break time, which this time I choosed to bake a cake :P

Cake cut into half - melted chocolate with raspberry..hmmm

I wanna make a cake that has melted chocolate inside combine with fresh raspberry. Using a new recipe for chocolate cake and adding some ingredients on it, baked around 20 minutes and voila... the cake is ready and yes..I did get the 'melted' effects of it. And the cake it self taste more moister than last recipe I usually used.

Remembering today is my work out time, so It shouldn't be a problem for me eating 2 cakes straight ahead Haha...

Monday, July 28, 2008

Violet Cupcake


It's Blueberry cupcake. My friend order this to her mom in law's bday. Somehow, the journey on delivery was not too friendly. They got into her place with a really messed condition! I could not believe my eyes when she quickly took a photo of of those cupcakes condition's and send MMS to me.. Huaaaa what a disaster! :"(



Don't know how, the cake was like jumping around to another, so the cream was all over the place! I think my cupcake base (the silver paper) was not larger enough to go with the white box (eventho' the box has its own ring already to make the cake stay steady). Ahh just too bad. I will not use the silver base again with that box, which I just realized it's too small to get inside the ring based, so there're still spaces that could make it moves around. Oh well, will do better next time..

Strawberry Mousse


This is my 1st time making mousse and turns out really easy and really good... I love how the taste, sweet and sour! Send 2 glasses to Nini and she like it a lot -the mousse (except the jelly was a bit hard and I must say it was! haha :P).. Gonna do other experiment on flavor and work with the jelly :D

My 2nd Order of Macarons

My Friend went to Singapore and I would not want to miss this occasion to order (again) another macarons from Evan (dessertcouture.blogspot.com). Besides that, my friend also made an order so totally we ordered 3 sets of mini macarons (That's total of 9 boxes, each box contains 12 mini macarons with 3 kinds of flavors)..isn't that a great offer or what?!!..

Macarons-black sesame & chocolate valrhona flavor

One of the thing that impressed me, the macarons last 1 week on the fridge and still taste great. Why 1 week? Coz I kindda safe it night after night to eat it haha.. while my friend got it on the fridge for almost 2 weeks! which was still fine and the taste still the same! Here are some photos of the last 2 boxes I got.. Arrgghh I could still smell the orange poppyseed, the sesame and the Valrhona Chocolate!! They're all delicioso!

Macarons-graine de pavot (orange poppyseed) & pistachio

Macarons-black sesame, chocolate valrhona, caffe,
graine de pavot (orange poppyseed), pistachio flavor - Aren't they all looks georgeous?


Thank you so much Evan for your effort on our last minutes order. Will repeat orders when we get there again hehe :D

Macha Cupcake


Made a matcha cupcake for my dearest client. I still have to work the recipe to get a moist cake which I dunno how to get it. Anyway I'll just have to keep practicing :)



My one (and only) favorite photo spot

Hiaahhh stelah keenakan liburan..(yang liburan anaknya, emaknya ikut2an..) akhirnya ngupdate juga blog. Padahal kerja siihhh ketemu komputer juga setiap hari.. tapi ga tau knapa mo upload-upload beraattt banget rasanya. Specially koneksi internet kadang suka lambreta jadinya keburu males deee..

Anyway..seblumnya udh mengajukan surat permintaan maaf kpada sang empunya event..(pake acara 'on bended knee' ala-ala upik abu) huaaa Ditaaaa...:"(.. udah mempersiapkan segudang alasan ketelatan akhirnya mikir halah salah sendereee yare yare yaraaa..akhirnya memberanikan diri untuk tetappp ikutan HOME FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY #3 yang pdhal deadlinenya udah entah dari kapan.

Smoga ga expect kalo studio odong-odong-kuh ada lighting, foam board-nya segala..ohh tidaakk jauuhh dari ituu!!! Cuma bermodalkan kursi putih beli di ACE HARDWARE beberapa tahun yang lalu (yang skarang udah mulai berdaki :() dan lighting natural dari luar garasi. Yah bginilah nasib kalo rumah menghadap ke Barat, jadi ga nerima matahari masuk ke rumah :P

Nah, bginilah penampakannya si studio seadanya ala mamapindi:


Hehehe bener kan kataku 'seadanya'.. so far karena elmu fotografi masi terbatas, jadi masi ngandelin natural lighting dari balik pager yang nah itu kayaknya ke 'sensor' bikin jadi 'adem' gara-gara plastik putih si pager.. Dan kalo jam-jam fotonya beda, hasil warna fotonya juga bikin beda.. yang pasti pagi benerrr kalo mau bright, sore hari kalo mo efek soft.. Sedangkan kalo tengah hari bolong is a big No No untuk ambil gambar! Selain cahayanya ga bagus, malah jadi ada bayang2nya..hih!.

Oc deh, skian laporan event HFP #3. Yang #4 apa ya Diiitt?? jadi deg-deg-an...

Link: HFP#3 Round Up

Friday, June 13, 2008

My Son's 6th Birthday

My Son's 6th Birthday Cake

Yes, I did it! I made a birthday cake for my son's 6th Birthday!. I know it's not a spectacular cake and far from perfect..but I'm glad I finally achieve my goals to make a birthday cake for my son this year. This is why I'm so into baking from last year. I had this goal in mind that I have to learn making cakes so when my son's having his birthday, I could make one for him (not buying anymore).

My plan was to make a number cake for my son's birthday cake. Not knowing how to make number '6'..I tried to browse internet but still couldn't find the answer. Luckily, I'm in this group called NCC and one day I read an email which a mom asking about making cake number 6 for her son's birthday too. I remember one of the member replied and gave her attachment about picture how to make number cake from 1,2, etc. Oh wow what a coincidence! I'm so glad that I join the group so that I could learn a lot from it about baking stuff. So, I have prepared my self and plan which day I will make the cake.

The Base for Cup Cake Box…

… and Thank You Tag - Designed by moa :)

Basically I have to bake two shape of cake and then combine it.. I think it's gonna be easy..but when the day has come..I'm having a really really hectic day because of works!!! I don't have much time to prepare it days before.. I'm still hoping that I could make that number, but thinking about the time and effort..arrggh I'm so hopeless that I wouldn't make it in time.

So then I went to Titan buying the ingredients and also a plastic box for the goody bag (I'm planning to give a single cup cake for Figo's class mates). The boxes were completed, check!. And now for the tin.. I have to buy round tin and square one.. but when I got into the tin section..I couldn't believe my eyes that they did sale tins in number shape!!! My God..I was surprise and totally want to jump around..They also had number 6!! or 9!!! never mind..it's the same anyway.. Oh I'm so so Glad coz this will save my time much much more for making it!!! Thank God!!!

For the Boys - Chocolate cake with chocolate ganache innards
Topped with buttercream, Blue and Green M&Ms

We'll be having the celebration on 12th June at Figo's class (Figo's actually birthday is June 8, but it's Sunday and we're still at Singapore, so couldn't celebrate it in Jakarta anyway). So I started making it 1 day before, from noon (after I finished working) until 3.00 am. Yes, damn right it took so long and I had to sleep only for 3 hours then.. But I'm saying for my self.."If I was wiling for not having enough sleep because handling my working job, so I should do the same to finish this for my own son!!!"..

For the Girls - Lemon cake with strawberry paletta innards
Topped with buttercream, Orange and Yellow M&Ms

I don't know much (yet) about decorating cake, but I do want to make it simple but still colorful..and it goes along with the collaterals I made (cup cake base, tag, flag). So I just use M&Ms as the decoration. Simple and colorful, I like :D. The Birthday cake was ready at 3.00 am and so half of the cup cakes (28 pieces).. 13 were done, only 15 more to go to decorate it..I'll do it on the next morning. Just couldn't bear with my sleepy eyes...

At 7.00 am, I'm starting to decorate again..Thanks for my assistant and hubby's cousin who live with us also, they helped me to do the packaging and stuff (I did the prototype and they did the rest)..I couldn't finish it just all by my self.. Then exactly at 10.45 am cake arrived safely at Figo's school. It's so funny when the kids see me carrying the birthday cake..one of them asked me "Figo Mom, Did you make the cake by your self?".. and I'm so glad I could answer "Yes I did dear :D"..


When I opened it, Figo (who hasn't seen the cake yet this morning) and all his friends was surprised and said "Woowww...".. I feel so proud to my self (still even it's far from perfect) but I could make my son's feeling happy and proud of his 'mom's homemade' birthday cake.

The Number 6, on package

Happy Birthday my dearest son..Semoga panjang umur, sehat selalu, semakin pintar, menjadi anak yang sholeh dan selalu di ridhoi oleh Allah S.W.T. Amiinnn.

Monday, June 9, 2008

My Journey Finding a Great Macarons

BUGIS MRT Station

At last, we've (Me, Hubby and my son) arrived at Singapore. And my first to do list is to buy a good macarons that I had longing from last November 2007.

The story begins when I accidentally found this singaporean blogger (bossacafez.blogspot.com) who made cup cakes, cakes and macarons! First I didn't know what macarons are..but after I browse a lot here there looking info about it..I kinda know what it is after all. I did try to make it but I just couldn't make it right.. Desperately want to taste it so I tried to search whether it's sold in town.

Sembawang MRT - exactly 45 minutes from BUGIS

When I knew macarons was sold at this popular local bakery called B****Z*N. Me & my friend, Nini, ran over there and tried the macarons... We tried this Ispahan, blueberry, and Foret Noire. But somehow it wasn't like what we've expected. It's darn too sweet, sweet and sweet. Even if you already put it in the refrigerator..it's still too sweet. I'm not a very sweet tooth kind of person..For me, something too sweet just making me feel a bit dizzy.

Sembawang MRT - The meeting point to collect the macarons

But I do feel and hope these macarons from bossacafez are different. From what I've seen the customer/friends who ordered from her, it has lots more of flavors and they're all look so mouth watering!!!.. I just made a promise to my self that when I'm going to Spore, I will definitely buy those things for sure!

Sat June 7, I'm leaving from hotel at 5.00 to the MRT station and go right away to Sembawang area where I will collect my macarons. I've already email asking about the flavor, etc, with Evangeline (owner of dessert couture and the blog also) before I go to Singapore. I'm so excited and yes, Evan was really helpful guiding me to choose which flavor that suite me most. The journey took about 45 minutes from where I left (from Bugis MRT Station) and I arrived 15 minutes earlier. Sembawang is a really nice suburb.. Rain was pouring half of the day in Singapore so the weather is a bit chill and windy. Glad I wore my pink jacket and that's also my clothing 'code' for Evan so she could easily find me :D

Macarons by bossacafez.blogspot.com - Aren't they gorgeous?

Finally I met the girl..I'm such a fan of her haha..If you see her cakes, macarons, cup cakes all have been created with neat and perfect!. Specially her food photography oohh just amazed me :). I'm so glad that we finally met and we had chit chat a bit. She also recommend me to go to the local bakery shop that sold nice packaging for cup cakes..I already did go there before, in the afternoon, with hubby and my son. I bought some packaging, candies and sprinkles there. Wish I have more money that I could spend more haha..

Enjoying Mango Macarons while waiting my plane at Changi Airport

Anyway..the macarons taste Great! It just blew the taste when I first taste macarons from that popular bakery shop.. The tiny sizes just make it even more easier to eat and the sweetness is just right for me! My favorites are the Graine de Pavot (orange poppy seed) and Cafe Noissete flavor. I ate it almost 1.5 boxes just for my self at the hotel, my hubby took just 2..they're all miiine!!!haha..I finished the half box tomorrow, while I'm waiting my plane at Changi Airport.

Macarons Flavors: Mango, Fraise, Macha, Caffe Noisette, Graine de Pavot, Chai Spice

I gave other 3 boxes to my friend Nini, after I arrived at Jakarta. Luckily the macarons stay as yummy as it was the 1st day I got them, and they taste even better when you put it on the fridge! My friend and her family loving it too.. Somehow it's a different idea for a 'souvenir' from Singapore :)

Macarons - One bite is never enough...Trust me!

Thanks so much Evan for the macarons.. I'm sure gonna buy other flavors whenever I come to Singapore again :D..

PS: check out her blog for more cool cakes and pics at bossacafez.blogspot.com
and her cakery shop dessertcouture.blogspot.com

Coblos Cinta Cup Cakes

Cup cakes and some of the collaterals

Finally..after a very short time to develop a movie collaterals with a very very tight deadline (1 month only after the photo session!)..The project's done..I'm free from working overtime and free from sleeping at least only 4 hours a day!! yeyy.. It's an exhausting job but I'm really glad I did it and finished all on time :D.

Girls Rules

We (me and my friends) went to see the Gala Premiere on May 28.. The crowd were full of young stars (since this movie for teenagers) and somehow I felt like one of them..haha (you wished!). I got a chance took some photos with the casts, and we did have a great time. The film itself was light and funny kind of story..although It wasn't great..but I think I could appreciate the directors who wanted to bring a romantic comedy film in different way.

Boys Rules

The cupcakes made for the Film company as my gratitude and I also made a Cremé Tiramisu for Mandy, who gave me the job and being a very nice client :D. The graphic was done taking some of the cast pics, and since the color theme is Pink and yellow, so I made the same colors as in the cupcakes. Last, thanks to Ina Larizz for printing the edible image.

Cup cakes in the box, ready to deliver