D'Cup Cakes, Cookies & more

If there's a will...

2009-11-29T15:25:00.011+08:00

And there I was... stranded without a working oven and a cake mixer that decides every now and then to spin so fast that it spews its contents on my face and kitchen walls.... and all these orders to fill! What to do, what to do?? A frantic call to my brother and SIL and I get to borrow a table top microwave/convection oven and a hand held cake mixer.

Now, how do I bake 200 cupcakes in a borrowed oven that bakes only 1 dozen cupcakes at a time? Another frantic call.... to Mr Lim this time (he repaired both my TV's recently) and he comes the very next day as promised. It's the heating element, he says and goes in search of the part. After scouting the 4 corners of Klang Valley, he gets my oven working 2 days later, just 24 hours before the marathon baking.

The day before, I went to my fave cake supply shop and while lamenting my woes, I was offered to used their facilities there, I'd just have to bring my own ingredients. Karen, you're so sweet, maybe one day I will take you up on that offer!

The cake and cupcake display stand I made for this order.

I've been making Mikhail's cakes since he was a year old. I wonder what he will be fascinated with next year or what interesting cake idea his Mummy will have.

Sue and Sharil got engaged!

Just some of the 200 cupcakes ordered for the children in an orphanage.

Butter and chocolate marble cake with an edible frosting image.

Unreliable

2009-11-10T14:08:00.006+08:00

The one word that upsets me... unreliable. It comes in many shapes and forms. In this case it's my Kenwood mixer. Just over a year old, it has broken down once and currently it's playing tricks on me again. Notice how the major faults happen after the warranty expires! Nothing's a keeper anymore.

A 10" 3kg semolina cake.

No, the keys to this beauty wasn't hidden in the cake!

A small indication that the birthday person is a golf fan.

Deja Vu

2009-10-12T16:26:00.005+08:00

This design brings back memories of the very first module (sugar paste) I took of the 3 offered by PME. However, at that time we worked with dummy cakes. This one was a sugee (semolina) cake.

This was my gift to Michelle for her 40th birthday bash, vanilla butter and red velvet cupcakes.

I didn't go coz I couldn't find a cheongsam to fit me, since the party had a Shanghainese theme... seriously people, you don't want to see me in one!

Well, the truth being I worked throughout the night on another order for collection early the very next morning. Stressing at 4am on how to box the 2 rather tall cakes, I totally forgot to take pictures of them. Even the little bear-holding-a-blankie topper which I had made days earlier never made it to my album... how sad.

Orange and chocolate cupcakes for Sue's birthday.

Salam Aidilfitri

2009-09-20T16:47:00.005+08:00

Selamat Hari Raya and happy holidays to all (and if this does not apply to you, just have a great weekend)! Eat, drink and be merry for the diet starts tomorrow! Thank goodness tomorrow never comes!

Having baked, mixed, stirred, coloured, kneaded, cut, frilled, fluted, swirled, leveled, tasted, washed and dried for the past 4 days with minimum sleep, I get to enjoy today with some lemang and rendang and give my hands some rest and TLC. Oh, and of course up-dating my blog!

Moist chocolate cake covered in luscious chocolate ganache. The sugar roses couldn't quite dry as it has been raining almost daily. Making them in this high humidity was an ordeal in itself!

Butterscotch cake. Iced with buttercream and topped with sugar roses.

The Sesame Street gang.

Using edible images.

SUCCESS

2009-09-09T12:25:00.011+08:00

I tried out 3 new recipes recently. Was quite satisfied with 2. Funny how success with little things like this can put a spring in your step for a couple of days! I did work on this Red Velvet for a while and finally getting it right with 2 thumbs up from friends!

Red Velvet with cream cheese frosting

Semolina(sugee) and coconut. Quite yums!

Peanut butter cupcakes.
Not exactly happy with this recipe.

Golf themed cake.

Chocolate and strawberries.... gooood...!

A 'cowboy' cake.

Something in tropical colours.

Happy 52nd Malaysia. Sorry I added 2 extra stripes on you!

Carrot and walnut with cream cheese frosting.

Concentrating on what's ahead

2009-08-20T18:27:00.009+08:00

With so much sad news recently, it's best to keep busy and focus on today and tomorrow. Every dark cloud has it's silver lining, we just have to look through the haze obstructing it!

These cupcakes were meant to be wedding favours. However, due to unavoidable circumstances the wedding has to be postponed. And like the troopers some people are, we must have our cake, albeit a week later. I didn't mind, it was either that or having 200 flowers sitting around the house... literally!

Elaine's daughter turns 1.

Strawberry swirl cheesecake. My all time fave!

I re-connected with an old classmate recently. This was his second order in a matter of days after first trying my cupcakes. Hope Penny got a decent slice this time!

Tried a new recipe for sugee cake.
Verdict: 2 thumbs-up!

Clowning around

2009-08-05T19:22:00.007+08:00

Have I? I've been kept pretty busy lately but I don't have the pictures to show for it. A lot has been on my mind and maybe that's why I feel like I've been 'working' a lot! All I can say is I'm glad July is gone!

This was to be a chocolate chip butter cake. As I feared all the choc chips sunk to the bottom but I had to see it for myself.

Some colour samples a customer wanted to see for her up coming wedding.

Met up with old friends and brought caramel banana & walnut cupcakes.

Sweet May

2009-07-13T21:43:00.013+08:00

May and I met at the first PME Professional course, we've since completed all 3 modules together. The most bubbly person one could ever come across, May called me this morning all concerned because I had not made an update on my blog in a while. How sweet was that, you tell me!

As I had told May, the reason was because most of the work I've been doing lately are repeats of previous work so there hasn't been anything new to feature. But time does fly past and now I do have new stuff to show.

Thanks for your call May, stay sweet and I know I can count on you for the most infectious laugh!

For Hida, the science student.

I didn't have much time to put any thought into this graduation butter almond cake. The only request was for lots of icing!

A Mummy, wife and lawyer... what a job!

Kinda obvious what this dude's interests are! *wink, wink*

Butterscotch mini cupcakes.

Banana and walnut cake for McCann's June birthdays.

An order from England. From Graham to his daughter who teaches at the Alice Smith school.

Cupcakes

2006-05-09T19:06:00.007+08:00

• Unless otherwise requested, all cupcakes are approx. 1”/2.5cm in height and 2”/5cm top diameter and packed loosely in standard cake box.
• Per box/order contains 16 cupcakes.
• 1 flavour per order, minimum order – 1 box. A combination of flavours packed per box is possible for 2 or more different flavours.
• Prices quoted are based on basic buttercream decoration. Any additional decorations, personalized or themed cakes will be priced accordingly. Please agree to and confirm final design and price before continuing with order.
• Special arrangement can be catered to packing and boxing. Please include this request when requesting for a price quote.
• Prices are also subject to change according to current prices of ingredients.

FLAVOURS

All Time Favourites
Flavours: * Vanilla Butter * Chocolate * Butterscotch * Double Orange *
Frosting: Vanilla/Citrus/Dark Chocolate/White Chocolate buttercream
Colours for buttercream only: Limited to 3 of your choice
Price: RM40 per box per flavour with buttercream
+RM10 for cream cheese/dark or white chocolate frosting

Other Favourites
Flavours: * Orange & Coconut * Orange & Raisin * Choc Peanut butter*
Frosting: Vanilla/Citrus/Choc buttercream/Cream cheese
Colours for buttercream only: Limited to 3 of your choice
Price: RM45 per box per flavour with buttercream
+RM10 for cream cheese/dark or white chocolate frosting

Decadent Favourites - 20 pcs per box/flavour
Oreo Cookie with crushed Oreo cookie buttercream frosting - RM60
Nutella cupcakes with buttercream frosting RM60
Baked Lemon cream cheese with lemon cream cheese frosting - RM65
Carrot & walnut with buttercream frosting RM65 * With cream cheese frosting - RM75
Strawberry cupcakes with strawberry flavoured buttercream frosting - RM70 (upon availability of fruit)

Mini cupcakes

Size: 0.8”/2cm in height and 1.2”/3cm top diameter.

Flavours: * Vanilla Butter * Chocolate * Butterscotch *
Frosting: Vanilla buttercream
Colours: Limited to 3 of your choice
Price: RM40 per box (36 pcs) per flavour
Note: Price quoted above is for basic frosting design & loosely packed mini cupcakes. Special requests/themes will be priced accordingly. However, designs are limited because of it’s size.

Cakey-cakey for the DCruz family

2009-06-16T16:40:00.005+08:00

That was how my dear friend Sue described her order when she emailed me. The cakes below were for one of their regular family get togethers, nearly 50 pax each time.

Vanilla butter cake. Sue's mum turns 70. Her cake incorporates all her interests: children, home, baking, reading, girl guides and sewing. After my royal icing course, I decided to include the recently learned smocking technique here.
Date & walnut cake. For Sue's sister and BIL's 16th anniversary. This is a new recipe shared by Beryl in England. I've not received feedback so I've no idea how this cake turned out but the 'greenies' theme made it fun to do!

Moist chocolate cake for the June babies. Here I played around with colourful glitter piping gel.

PME Professional Diploma in Royal Icing

2009-06-06T11:35:00.009+08:00

And so I've completed all 3 Modules offered by PME, UK. What's next? The Masters certificate is so tempting but let's wait and see. However, it does give me a sense of achievement to hold the 3 diplomas and Calvin's (our sifu) words ring out loud and clear, "You are now a Cake Artists, not home bakers anymore." Wow, that will take a while to sink in!

One thing for sure, I'm no longer intimidated by sugar paste (fondant), sugar flowers or royal icing... bring it on!

I so need a new camera... among other stuff!

2009-05-27T10:36:00.008+08:00

My Fuji Digital cam has seen better days. Followed me to Australia, Bali, New Zealand and all around here. Went for repairs twice... so what more can I ask of it? You have served me well but dang it.... I have to take a dozen snaps before it yields a clear picture!

However a replacement has to wait. I have a water tank, damaged ceiling, walls and floor to think of first (see previous post).

Cakes

2006-05-09T18:28:00.005+08:00

Please go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/d-cupcakes/ to view updates on my cake designs.

Please allow 3 days notice for regular orders and 7-14 days for special design or large orders. My advice is to book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. All collection is from my home in Bangsar. A location map to collection venue will be provided upon confirmation of order.

I prefer to individualize cakes/cupcakes. Tell me briefly what you want/occasion/colour/ theme and I’ll come up with an idea/design and provide a quote. Call or email me for a no obligation price quotation.

• Prices quoted includes the frosting mentioned which best compliment the cake. You may ask for your preferred frosting flavour instead.
• Prices quoted are based on basic buttercream decoration. Any additional decorations, personalized or themed cakes will be priced accordingly. Please agree to and confirm final price before continuing with order.
• Gift-wrapping (ie Christmas package) is also available for an additional charge. Please include this request when ordering.
• Prices are also subject to change to current prices of ingredients.
• Please visit website/s (see top of 1st page) for regular updates.
• Pictures featured below are as reference only.

Butter cake with Vanilla buttercream
6” square (500gm) – RM35
8” square (1Kg) – RM55
10” square (2Kg) – RM100

Moist chocolate cake with buttercream
6” square (600gm) – RM35
8” square (1Kg) – RM55
10” square (2Kg) – RM100
(+ RM10 per 500gm cake for chocolate buttercream)

Chocolate orange cake
6” square (700g)
RM45 with Vanilla buttercream
RM55 with Chocolate buttercream

Carrot, Orange & Sultana cake
7” square (800g)
RM60 with orange buttercream frosting
RM70 with cream cheese frosting

Carrot & Walnut cake
7” square (1Kg)
RM65 with orange buttercream frosting
RM75 with cream cheese frosting
8” square (1.5Kg)
RM90 with orange buttercream frosting
RM100 with cream cheese frosting

Double orange cake with orange buttercream
6” square (700g) – RM45
8” square (1.4Kg) – RM85

Coconut & orange cake with orange buttercream
7” square (800g) – RM45
8” square (1.2Kg) – RM65
9” square (1.6Kg) – RM85

Semolina (sugee) cake with vanilla/orange buttercream
8” square (1.5Kg) – RM75

Lemon OR Strawberry swirl cheesecake (no bake)
9” diameter (1.5Kg) – RM90

Hazelnut OR Walnut butter cake
7” square (800g)
RM50 Unfrosted
RM60 with Rich chocolate glaze

Lemon cream cheese cake dusted with sugar icing
7” square (700g) – RM50

Pumpkin, date & coconut cake dusted with sugar icing
8” square (1.5Kg) – RM75
Pumpkin, date & coconut cake dusted with sugar icing
8” square (1.5Kg) – RM75

Browniee
8” square – RM60

Chocolate Fruitcake
9” diameter (1.5 Kg) – RM100

Just when you thought things might go smoothly...

2009-05-13T19:08:00.007+08:00

Sometimes things just falls into place. You sell similar ideas to different clients and in one sitting you get all the toppers done and drying nicely until bake day. See below, how alike everything looks? Same colour scheme, all in buttercream.... aaah, easy peasy, right? Think again....

Before I could really rejoice at how relaxing my weekend is going to be.... the water tank decides to burst and rain on our heads... indoors! So in between baking, I mopped and mopped, searched for a plumber.... mopped some more, all 150 gallons of water the tank held. I'm not even going to show you a picture of the gaping hole in the ceiling the plumber made to get to the source of the leak.

The sound of silence.... and hot air.

2009-05-03T17:36:00.010+08:00

It's been a long, hot, dry and quiet past couple of weeks in my home. My beloved Ken(wood) went on a unannounced vacation (did I over-worked him?).... and I kinda followed.

Only a few orders came along the last couple of weeks. Not that I'm complaining; it must be the hottest season yet! I made all these using good old fashioned brute power before I borrowed a hand held mixer from my kind SIL.

Vanilla butter cupcakes.

Mini cupcakes in butterscotch.

Someone just wanted a good 'ol carrot cake to enjoy. I like it this way too... no fuss and no extra calories!

Chocolate indulgence

2009-04-20T19:34:00.010+08:00

Elaine and family loves my chocolate cakes and cupcakes. And I love them for loving it! Below are all that she ordered recently and including this new addition.... Brownies!!

Chocolate cupcakes.

Moist chocolate cake.

Chocolate Mini cupcakes.

Of course there were orders from others too!

A double orange cake.

Thomas Tank & Friends edible images. A mix of vanilla butter, chocolate and butterscotch cupcakes.

My fave, vanilla butter cake.

Funny bunny

2009-03-31T10:59:00.010+08:00

Let's just say I've always wanted to try this and finally got the chance. I'm pretty pleased with the results. The green letterings are piping gel with glitter... fancy or what?!
Now, if only I had all these branded goods in my wardrobe!

Made these for a friend's brother's 60th birthday bash. Guests thought it was part of the deco!
Oh, and I got another cake display stand in my collection! Yayy! Thanks Bhav!

Carrot and walnut cake with cream cheese frosting.
Something seems amiss with my bunny, I can't quite put my finger on it....
Anyone ...?

PME Professional Diploma in Sugar Flowers

2009-03-19T16:30:00.006+08:00

We kneaded and kneaded, added colour and kneaded some more. We rolled, we stretched, dusted, cut, frilled, pierced, layered and screamed at our failure to create something/anything similar to what Calvin showed! *mumbles under our breath.... what did we get ourselves into?!*

The last day (graduation day) was the most taxing. We dusted, and dusted and sneezed a rainbow of petal dust. Then came the binding of the flowers. Some took notes, some didn't.... others screamed, "Calvin, help!!" But we persevered, although come 9pm some were packing up and prepared to leave unfinished. Let me give you an idea of how long a day it was, I left the place at almost midnight!

And so we all graduated, and we have pictures to prove!

A Christmas arrangement - Poinsettias.
The strawberry and blackberry bushes.

Now where was I ......?

2009-03-15T22:45:00.025+08:00

Gosh, it's been so long I've forgotten how to do this! No, I lie... it's a cop out for having all the pictures in a jumble! The layout usually goes awry, it always does.... I don't expect it to be any different this time. I've no idea what I'm doing wrong!

My iBook crashed. I lost everything *sob, sob* All my music, bits of info on baking and decorating, saved Bookmarks, my manuscript (did I mention I was writing a recipe book?), pictures of my works are gone (I think I have most of them here and in Flickr, so that's a consolation).

Having said all that, here are some highlights of what I've been up to.

May I present the easiest design in the world!

Some wedding favour ideas.

Something decadent.

For the little ones.

A star is born. I know, that was corny....

For the football fans.

When you're out of ideas for kids, racing cars are always good!

Valentine's... and all the way back to CNY

2009-02-15T19:05:00.021+08:00

I'm late with all my festive wishes and I apologize. I blame the weather, the hot spell lately makes me lethargic. No one's buying that, huh? Truth be told, I have been busy, hopefully in my next post you'll get to see what I've been up to.

My Chinese New Year designs.

Now, let's make some teddy bears and bunnies!

Getting ready for F! 2009!

Everyone want a 'Mermaid' theme lately

"No milk today...

2009-01-28T00:59:00.004+08:00

... my love has gone away."

That's the line from a Hermans Hermits' song that keeps repeating in my head tonight as I try to compose this post. What I am trying to say is my laptop crashed and that's why I've not shown anything new. My latest works are safely stored in my digital camera for now. Did I say safe? Well, the camera did recently suffered a breakdown.

Anyhoo, I'm optimistic that all pictures of my works are recoverable together with the other important data. Failing which I have the last 200 pictures featured on Flickr and all can be seen if I go Pro. Meanwhile, I'll uncross my fingers only when necessary eg. when baking.

My thanks to Gibb for getting my digital camera fixed, my nephew for letting me use his shiny new MacBook while he was out of town and my brother for the loan of his desktop.

Colours

2009-01-11T12:37:00.016+08:00

Happy belated 2009!

I've been lax with updates for want of something interesting to blog about.... until today. My last design (below) was met with this comment "Very Indian". We sometimes don't have to use many words to get our message across. My brother's reaction was, "Being one quarter Indian ourselves, what do you expect?" Bless his honest soul!

But seriously, I think India and Indians have the most vibrant colours imaginable... and almost enviable. Having half able to achieve that effect myself would be the highest compliment to me!

Being in this line, we're always looking for new colours. We may achieve the perfect shade today but may not get the same effect for the next batch. One lesson I've learned again and again..... always make MORE!

Some more colours below... enjoy!

A special shoutout to my friend C, in Canada who's not feeling too hot lately. Well d'uh... it's -25C there! Feel better dear!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T03:58:00.002+08:00

I think the above picture is befitting for today. It was my last project before graduating from the PME Sugar paste course. The criteria was to feature 2 'bubble' figures and a sugar paste drape but otherwise Calvin (our instructor whom we teased mercilessly) said it was freestyle. Most went for the wedding theme and I must say the works that were produced were very impressive!

Besides Calvin, our very patient instructor, I also have to thank Suan, my partner in crime during the course. Also a fellow ex-advertising industry person, Suan was literally my strong man... sorry, strong person.... throughout the course. Thanks for all your help Suan, I hope we can do another course together.

I never got to taking it easy this month, I have loads more pictures to share. I'll feature them in my next blog entry. I just want to put my feet up for a couple of days and give my swollen ankles a rest.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!

A December to go slow

2008-12-02T16:40:00.013+08:00

As much as I like to be kept busy, I think I owe it to myself to take it easy this month. Enjoy my birthday and leisurely prepare for Christmas with the family. I was already midway preparing for my Christmas 2008 toppers when a sudden change of date for the last PME sugarpaste class kinda threw everything outta whack. But I'm still taking orders until the 20th, afterwhich I will come back with some changes to my menu and a long overdue price revision, nothing drastic I promise!

My works for the last week:

Oreo Cookies and Chocolate cupcakes with a request for 5 little gumpaste piggys and to go easy on the icing.

Vanilla butter & chocolate mini cupcakes

I made 6 different cupcake flavours in 1 day and I for the life of me I cannot remember which is which except for the distinct chocolate ones. The others were Vanilla butter, butterscotch, double orange, marmalade and coconut orange. Luckily I labelled the boxes as I went along but I seriously doubt if any of the customer would have complained if they received the wrong order. How's that for being cock-sure?! *grins*

Oh, and for some of these I was asked to be generous with the icing. How I love to hear those magical words!

So much to do and so little time

2008-11-23T18:40:00.015+08:00

Wow... 2 weeks just zoomed past or has it been 3? I've been attending a sugar paste course and baking in between. Some people are asking about Christmas cakes already and I'm like "Christmas is here??" Sometimes I wished there was 3 of me, firstly so I don't have to explain what needs done, secondly 2 of us can stay home to bake while the other does all the running around and thirdly, we can take turns working sometimes up to 5am!

The weather lately... sigh... so buttercream unfriendly! I should be grateful that I don't work with fondant so much. Our beautiful sugarpaste designs all fell off the cake as soon as we brought them home... horrors.... a dreadful thought if it was really for a customer!

Anyways, enjoy the pics below!

Vanilla butter cake

Mini vanilla butter cupcakes

I didn't expect this order to turn out so Christmassy looking!

Johann celebrates being 1 month old. The 2. empty spots are to be filled with red eggs