Home Away From Home

LONDON EATS : Patisserie Edition

2020-05-27T08:29:00.000+01:00

Back from my vampire coffin lol! This was in my drafts since 2018 so finally posting it. A lot has happened but will update this blog soon.

London Eats is back! As much as possible, I will try to alternate topics on my posts. As it has been a while for my food experience extraordinaire, I have compiled all the ones I had including from last year (or maybe from the year before that?). Yes, it's been that long.

French pastries for me is at a different level. If given a chance, I would love to learn how to make these exquisite treats. For me, this is the "high end, top of the line" products of baking. It's not just about the taste but of precision and art. Perfection.

This is a compilation of some of the French patisseries I've been in London - these are all chains (mostly from Paris originally) ranging from the affordable to the expensive. Please don't let me pick a favourite as each of these have their own strengths and are known for their respective bestsellers.

PIERRE HERME

PAUL

LADUREE

We decided to get the Suggestion du jour (aka Daily Special)

Tuna Steak, Broccoli Mash & Capers

Frasier
Madeleine biscuit soaked in citrus fruit infusion, vanilla from Madagascar light cream and strawberries

PATISSERIE VALERIE

Savoury

Cucumber on white bread

Smoked salmon & cream cheese on brown bread Egg mayonnaise & cress on brown bread

Ham, spinach & mustard on white bread Chicken, pesto & sunblazed tomatoes on brown bread Mini Vegetable Quiche

1 x mini carrot & walnut cake slice, 1 x mini mixed berry mousse slice 1 x mini double chocolate mousse slice

Patisserie

1 x mini Victoria sandwich, 2 x mini chocolate éclairs

Scones

2 x fruit scone, 2 x plain scone Strawberry & raspberry jam with clotted cream

Afternoon tea special selection
with my friend

Pot of tea for me and hot chocolate for my friend

DOMINIQUE ANSEL

Finally, the Cronut

Frozen S'mores and Cookie Shots

Merry Christmas (Yep, 'still here)

2017-12-12T01:03:00.002+00:00

Photo by hubby www.epcreativephotography.com

I did not realise that I never had a single post for 2017 so I am "trying" to make up for it by this short Christmas post. The photos are even late, yes from Christmas last year (2016). This year has it's highs and lows, though I am such a procrastinator, the main reason for not posting is me taking a break. Although this year started with a bang, I immediately had a low prior to my birthday back in March. I had health issues that keep coming back which made me realise that I had to slow down. So I stopped baking (been baking far too many), tried to lessen the stress between balancing family and work life (yes it has been tough) and finally, had our long awaited holiday to the Philippines. I had not been home in like s-e-v-e-n years. Part of my health issues was to control the food I take mainly the ones that can trigger the acidity but I've missed a lot of Pinoy food, delicacies and even the local produce so I ate them anyway and guess what, I never felt any problems with my tummy. So it was maybe stress related after all - though I refused to accept this from the start.

Anyway, I still make cakes just for personal consumption or if I need to contribute to an occasion but other than that, I am not baking as I used to (of course it hurt at first because baking is my passion) - my body can only take so much. So yeah, here I am again. I will probably post more in the coming days if I can. Some other things are also keeping us busy in the home front so I am more likely to break that promise but I will definitely post time and again especially on our wonderful Philippine trip. Hopefully I would be techie enough to post the videos especially of the lovely beaches and the delectable cuisines that are truly Pinoy.

So Merry Christmas and 'hope to have a Happy New Year post next time.

The Buttercream Effect

2016-10-27T23:05:00.005+01:00

Finally, a food/recipe post after "a while." You must have been fed up with all the travel and concert posts lol - there's actually more to be posted next time as it has been so delayed and a lot has happened. But they can wait.

Also this has been in my drafts folder for so long but I got caught up again and so this marks as my first post of the year 2017 - halfway through the year though but at least I was able to catch up.

I have been experimenting these past few months and have decided to level up my simple cream frosting into buttercream. I had a love and hate relationship with buttercream in the past. For some reason, there are instances where it was so good but since I was not doing it regularly, I think I might have missed something and when I do it again, it would turn out to be "not so good." It was either too runny or wet or it would start out okay, but then before I could finish frosting the cake, it would start to melt or worst, it just liquifies and I'm screwed. The only saving grace for me, is when I make chocolate buttercream because when I add the melted chocolate, it makes it more firm.

After some trial and error, I have learned some "secrets" to make good buttercream (at least enough to make the good swirl). I have also tried both spreadable and block butters just to see if there is any difference. There is also the difference between using icing sugar versus sugar & egg white mixture. And of course, along the way, I have finally discovered the buttercream that definitely tastes like Goldilocks. Yes, how I missed it and it has reminded me of the good old days when my dad would bring these log cakes for pasalubong. A bit tedious to do but I have been used to it. After I have "discovered" this, I have never looked back since and have been using it on my cakes and cupcakes. It has this different feel whenever I would frost my cakes and when I would squeeze the icing bag, it just has this smoothness once it comes out. I feel like I can control it more and it is consistent from the start to the end of my frosting/decorating as compared to cream frosting when it starts to melt or soften when I've been frosting way too long.

BASIC BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

2 blocks of butter*
2 1/2 to 3 cups of icing sugar
1 to 1 1/2 tsp flavouring
2 tbsp cold milk
(if chocolate) 1 bar baking chocolate and 1 tsp coffee dissolved in 1 tbsp hot water

Cream the butter using a handheld or stand-in mixer. Gradually add the icing sugar and milk, alternately (start a lower speed then gradually increase) until they are incorporated and buttercream is light and fluffy. Add the flavouring and chocolate, if applicable.

*Blocks in the UK is equivalent to two small but long blocks in the US. By block, I mean 250 grams of butter.

At the moment, I have tried experimenting a mix of 1 block of butter, cut into cubes and 250g equivalent of spreadable butter. So far, so good. I think it is the cold milk the makes the difference. Before, my butter was runny but I was not adding milk to it, simply because I thought it would worsen it and also the earlier recipe I followed, did not use milk. I also noticed that it was easier before when I was using a hand-held mixer and when I tried with a stand-in mixer, these were the instances where I frequently had the runny buttercream. But now, it seems to be okay. In terms of the difference with Swiss Meringue Buttercream, there are grainy bits in the basic buttercream although I have noticed that using a mix of spreadable and block butter, makes it a bit smoother and brings it closer to the Swiss Meringue Buttercream consistency. Also using vegan versions - i.e. avocado or coconut butter, olive oil and other forms also makes it more into a smooth consistency although there is a risk that it is soft and does not harden even when chilled. There is also a bit difference in taste.

photo courtesy of my hubby's EP Creative Photography

SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

2 egg whites

1 cup sugar

2 sticks butter/1 block butter

Mix the egg whites and sugar then place the container over a pan of simmering water. Mix until sugar is dissolved. It should be smooth when rubbed between fingertips. Whisk using a handheld or stand-in mixer until stiff. Wait to cool before adding the butter gradually. Add any flavouring. Continue to whisk until fluffy.

This is just a small cake buttercream recipe so you may double it if required. I have also tried using liquid egg whites as I do not want to waste the egg yolks - unless you plan on making custard which is also a good idea for a cake filling (just mix with condensed milk and cook until thickened; if it becomes too thick, just add a bit of milk). Please also make sure that the sugar has completely dissolved as it happened in one of my earlier tries (or rather fails lol) that I got impatient and went ahead without the sugar dissolving completely. The end product of the buttercream, whilst really good, was a big grainy. I also had some "incidents" with the egg white and sugar mixture, I must have beaten it too much in the mixer that it never turned fluffy. I ended up making sugar icing toppers as I don't want to throw it away. I guess the secret to these fails or near fails is just to keep beating it in the mixer until soft peaks form again. The turning point is usually when you add the butter and the fluffiness/air may seem to disappear BUT patience is key - just bloody wait.

It is also a challenge doing this in the summer months as the buttercream seems to be a bit delicate when the weather is hot. But this is still my favourite frosting because it is just so silky and easier to manipulate when you are decorating. I guess the difference with just plain buttercream is it does not melt too much, in the sense that it does not become too liquidy and separates when only a small amount is left. And if there are some left overs which you store in the fridge, when you bring it out to be used again, it does not change it's consistency as compared to buttercream that becomes a bit softer and "melted." It's only as good as fresh - maybe it's the milk, I don't know. I have noticed with buttercream that I usually start really good but then when I'm trying to use up the remaining frosting - it starts to soften and the pattern I decorated from the start has deformed a bit. Of course, you can still pop it in the fridge to harden but still, it does not have that consistency from start to finish.

I know the process for Swiss Meringue is a bit more tedious but I don't mind and I'm now used to it - as long as the end product meets my expectations, it definitely outweighs everything.

all photos courtesy of hubby's EP Creative Photography

link to his website is on the top menu/tab

Watch this space for the Italian Meringue Buttercream. It is just hectic ATM so I will try this when I get the chance to do some experiments. For the meantime, my next post may be about my latest obsession with choco side drips on my cakes and/or the making of those buttercream flowers. Still learning on these two tricks but I think I'm getting there.

Brief Berlin Trip

2016-08-04T23:46:00.001+01:00

Late last year, I went to Berlin for a short work trip. I didn't have much time to really go around the city as I was there mainly for work. However, I managed to see the main sites (most of it, some from afar) in that short amount of time. I guess what really amazed me was the history. I never imagined in my life that I would get to go here so it's so surreal to see remnants of the east and west that once divided the country, yes the line dividing it is still there, not to mention memories of the dark past. I was also able to see the actual sight of the book burning, as seen in the movie, The Book Thief.

Special mention is the many Dunkin Donut chains I see around the city, yes I miss this chain and even if DD is now in London, they are never the same especially the munchkins. The German chocolates are also creamier I think so I got loads of them to bring as pasalubong and personal supplies (lol). I also grabbed the chance because they are cheaper over here.

Another place worth mentioning is the famous Hotel Adlon where the late Michael Jackson once dangled his baby (Blanket) on the hotel window. Close to the hotel is the city's famous landmark, the Bradenburg Gate. There was not much time though that I was not able to see the parliament building, Reichstag, only from afar.

Of course, last but not the least, the linden trees lining along the streets are so magical at that time of the year.

Some German TV

Bebelplatz - the actual site of the book burning, as seen in the movie, The Book Thief

THE AMPELMANN
This is the symbol shown on pedestrian signals in the former East Germany and is still seen in parts of Berlin. Unfortunately, I was only able to take this picture from the shop which is dedicated to this icon and forgot to take a picture of the real thing, which was still visible on the area I stayed in.

The Berlin Bear

Bradenburg Gate (Bradenburger Tor)

The famous Adlon Hotel where the famous Michael Jackson video/photograph was taken (and more likely it's one of the windows here)

Holocaust-Mahnmal (The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe aka Holocaust Memorial)

The remains of the Berlin Wall

If you see the line in the middle - it used to divide the east and west

There was actually a premiere for the latest Bond movie at the Sony Center

The Fernsehturm (BerlinTV Tower) as seen from Alexanderplatz for some last minute shopping

Metro close to the hotel and office.

Definitely got lots of chocolate for pasalubong...favorites are Ritter Sport and Merci which are really cheap compared to the UK.

Variety of munchkins...yum

The linden trees in autumn

Danke!

Northern Exposure: Part 2

2016-04-13T13:54:00.001+01:00

Our next summer adventure was again spent on "The North." GOT feels, I know. Lol. We were supposed to join a group of friends in Scotland but hubby made a last minute decision to cancel. He thinks that Isla will not like the long road trip as it would be our first time to travel that far. So instead, we headed up north of England.

We stayed in a caravan in Knott's End, Lancashire and stayed for 5 days/4 nights then went to nearby attractions during that week. It was also our first time to head up north, the northernmost we've been before was Liverpool, years ago, during our joint birthday.

LANCASHIRE

We stayed at Willowgrove Park, Knotts End. After looking up online (for what seemed to be an eternity; was looking at all good deals), we finally decided on this caravan. It was a deal from Bounty so there was a bit of discount. The size was bigger for us (a family of 3), as it still had a spare room for additional occupants but the caravan exceeded our expectations, given the price. The park looked more like a retirement village than a holiday area but it worked to our advantage as we needed some peace and quiet especially after the long trips.

It was our first time to stay in a caravan and we loved it. I had my qualms before (mainly because we came out for a holiday and I hate to do household chores especially cooking obviously) but it was actually okay. I was able to manage doing it (and surprisingly loved it) whenever we would get home from the caravan. Kitchen was a good size and I had all the menu for our dinner planned anyway. In fact, we had some leftover food after the trip. I guess I must have brought more than expected.

Hubby's perfect shot

Although there was no signal (at all) from where we were staying - yes it was such a torture for our social media frenzied selves - yet we had enjoyed our time there. I enjoyed the caravan experience to my surprise and we actually missed it when we left (and we had a hard time moving on for weeks).

View from our window...lovin' the horses

BLACKPOOL

Our first stop was this vibrant city as this was also the closest to our caravan location. There is a lot going on and the day was not enough to venture lovely Blackpool. Because we had a toddler in tow, our first priority was the theme park that is Pleasure Beach. Since it was summer holidays (aka school's out), it was PACKED. I guess we had been used to the relaxed atmosphere at Alton Towers that we were kind of shocked at how busy the place was. We obviously did not go to all the rides but as long as we get to have Isla go to Dora and the rest of Nickelodeon friends, that would do. It was a bit more "chaotic" than Alton Towers and maybe had less space than the other as it seemed that they have packed everything into one place. This probably started out as a small theme park as it was by the seaside then just expanded from there. But it was still fun anyway as they have really cool rides - although I'm not into adrenaline stuff anyway.

Ready!

Totally digging this :)

For the remaining time, we just ventured around the city, in car. We would have loved to go back if we had the time so that we can check out the other landmarks but unfortunately, we were out of time. The city offers a lot of attractions which are counterparts on this side up north - Sea Life, Dungeon, Madame Tussaud's to name a few. Of course, not to be missed is the iconic Blackpool Tower. We would have loved to go up there - oh well. I have also noticed these fancy horse carriages around the city which seemed to radiate it's fabulous vibe, the city which is known for ballroom dancing, variety shows and galas.

Yes, this served as our city tour :)

LAKE DISTRICT

After the hustle and bustle of the city, we need a breath of fresh air (literally). That's why we planned for Lake District the next day as this place has been in our bucket list from day one. There has been quite a few challenges on our way there - traffic for one was bad, same reasons from yesterday (peak season) and we also "got lost." We were supposed to go to a different part of Lake District/park entrance but we missed the sign and our dear old, dependable (insert sarcasm) TomTom did not really lead us to that park. On our way home, we actually realised that the sign (which we did not see at all) was posted on the opposite direction. Honestly, it was not THAT obvious and when we tried to check it again to retrace our steps, it was hard to go back up because of the traffic.

See what I mean?

Straight out of a milk bottle :)

But it was worth it all. Amidst the traffic, the views made a good distraction. Such lush, green scenery on the way up to The Lakes. It's like you are transported to a different place...so calm, so cool, you just wanted to be sucked in. I am not a big nature fan and I'm not even into mountain lands as I think its remoteness would somehow detach me with the modern world and civilisation which I'm comfortable in (and can't live without), yes I am a city girl. But for this once, I was in touch with nature and I lurve it! We have not been into The Lakes yet...

Quick pit stop as this girl has lost her patience with the traffic...we also found our parking spot (finally!)

Almost there...closer to The Lakes

Now, "The Lakes." We were actually lucky in a way that we got lost because we went to the side of the park where we don't have to pay for the entrance. We also got to put up our small tent and just lounge under the sun and "enjoy nature" the whole day. It was also a lovely summer day so we could not be happier. If the scenes on the way to Lake District were postcard perfect, the actual lake was breathtaking. My pictures don't do justice. We would have loved to go boating but we were just contented to just sit there and appreciate what nature has to offer. This is definitely one of our best family day-outs.

And did I say that the air was cool, crisp and fresh? We were definitely in one with nature.

Lovely view outside our tent

Just wow

LIVERPOOL

Of course, we would not miss revisiting one of the places close to our heart. My husband is a big LFC fan so Liverpool should not be missed in our itinerary. Our first stop was Anfield, to get his up-to-date LFC merchandise. No major changes from the last time we visited, maybe it was a big bigger than last time, I dunno. We never had a chance to get inside again, only the store. Hopefully one day, we would have a chance to watch a football game. Someday. It is definitely in our bucket list.

Probably by that time, the new LFC stadium will be finished.

We then spent the rest of the day in the city centre. After a big lunch at their big shopping centre, we just hung out at Albert Dock, went around the shops including The Beatles Story, carousel ride for Isla and chilling in this Merseyside city. The weather was not as good as the previous days as there were instances of drizzling spells. Still it did not hamper us from going around the area.

The liver bird

Starting to get cloudy :(

Loved it then and loved it 'til now. And if given a chance, we would come back again.

OXFORD AND SWINDON STOP-OVERS

We had some quick stop-overs on our way and back. Going up north, we stopped by Oxford to see some friends. The rain was pouring heavily though so we never had a chance to go around Oxford. We just stayed indoors and used it to catch up with friends instead.

Isla loves dogs :)

On our way back, we made a stop at Swindon. Traffic was terrible on our way home that we decided to stay the night there. We also spent the next day shopping at the outlet shops. The good thing about the outlet is it was family friendly. There was a kids play area and even a train, so parents could take turns with the kids and shopping.

We definitely had a lovely time!

Northern Exposure:Part 1

2016-01-04T02:01:00.000+00:00

I cannot believe that the year 2015 has ended and I only managed two posts. 2015 has been a busy year (even if you check my other baking blog for cake orders) and I know it's no excuse but it's really hard keeping up with a blog and also trying to juggle a lot of things at the same time - work, home and baking on the side (some health issues as well).

It's been a bit late now to post this but I will do anyway. We spent some time in the summer up north, first at the end of July to celebrate Isla's 3rd birthday at Alton Towers Resort then our summer holiday in August at a caravan.

ISLA'S 3RD BIRTHDAY & ALTON TOWERS

We celebrated her actual birthday at home during the weekend with some friends.

Isla's Chiffon Cake with Boiled Icing and the simple set-up

I used the same recipe for Chiffon Cake here which is also found in this blog. For the icing, I just used this recipe which I found online but I only used 3/4 of the ingredients and in the end there was still some left overs.

The next day, we went to Alton Towers to stay overnight which is sort of the real family celebration for Isla's birthday given that her actual birthday on the 25th was just a simple celebration. Hubby had a photo engagement which was hard to refuse. Then the next day was an intimate get together with friends.

This was something that you can make from the Alton Towers website when you book . This is actually a video that invites your child to go to Alton Towers and you can choose from these two versions.

This was a very short overnight trip to Alton Towers because we do not have enough leaves left and we also have another longer holiday planned for the next month. It was just an overnight stay at the newly built Enchanted Village at the Alton Towers. The rate was actually cheaper than the Alton Towers Hotel, although the other hotel in sight which is the Splash Landings Hotel is still the cheapest. But we really liked the themed village as the room also had a woodland fairy theme plus it is still new. I did a lot of research prior to booking this and also checked other resorts and theme parks but I ended up with Alton Towers as we never had a chance to visit this part of the UK as well (where hubby used to work).

The hobbit houses...enchanting indeed!

What's inside our lovely lodge...including the surroundings.

The Alton Towers Hotel

Inside the hotel

The Splash Landings Hotel

Inside/hotel lobby

The Waterpark is inside this hotel. We went here on our second day.

We never had any regrets with the place, it met our expectations and the staff are really nice and accommodating. I can say this as I had some experience with going to other places here where people tend to be not too chatty when dealing with Asian customers. I guess it is sort of a misconception for people in this part of the world that if you look Asian (that is Southeast Asian) you don't speak English and therefore would never engage in a conversation with you. Although I don't really expect them to talk so much but some small talk would do especially if they have been so entertaining to the customer before you. That really puts me off all the time. So this is definitely one of the very few places where people actually engage/talk to you and chats to everyone (regardless if Asian or not) just the same. I mean in this day and age, people should not be judging on looks alone as everyone is migrating everywhere. Anyway, enough of my rant LOL.

First stop is Cbeebies Land which is inside Alton Towers

Fan girl moment for Isla as she met Iggle Piggle

...and also Upsy Daisy from In the Night Garden

This is definitely a must for young children :)

From the Postman Pat ride

Now moving on the Alton Towers

Mutiny Bay

The real Alton Towers (yes there is a real castle inside...fact)

It actually felt a bit eerie as I went up the castle grounds/gardens

I love the details even on the toilet doors

Lastly the only downside is, the place felt kind of sad as there were no big crowds or long queues on the theme park. We came during the aftermath of the Smiler crash/accident which I think have put a lot of people off. The extreme rides were closed because of the accident and although there were still people, we don't have to queue for almost all of the rides. There were even some rides where we are the only ones taking it - sad. I do hope that they will pick up in time and be back to normal again. It is still a nice place to begin with and despite of what just happened, the staff still seemed nice and upbeat. The only good thing about it is there were almost no queues so it was not really a problem for Isla as she does not not want to wait for too long. It also does not feel so stressful when there are not too many people around although in this case, there were too few people for such a big theme park. If I had another chance, I would definitely come back and stay a bit longer. Thanks Alton Towers!

Longest waiting time is 5-10 minutes :(

The monorail which brings you from the hotel to the theme park and back. Sadly, no queues as well.

P.S. A lesson learned and I ignored from previous reviews, please book the insight restaurants ahead of time as we ended up on a high-end resto as all of the restos were fully booked (given that the park was not that full at the time). Anyway, the resto was nice (and excellent service) but it was just really pricey.

Yummy but pricey. Excellent service.

#BestNightEver

2015-03-10T21:00:00.001+00:00

Sorry for the long absence again - that's so typical of me. Haha. For a change I am not writing about food, recipes or family stuff but rather about something that is close to my heart. This is something that happened back in February, but I was not able to finish writing this. To be honest, I only put the title/heading and tags then saved it as a draft.

I know it was years ago when I posted something similar, which was the final Harry Potter movie premiere in London where I "almost" went to but didn't happen. I was literally just outside the barriers. Remember that? The old post must be buried in here somewhere.

This post is dedicated to Nickolas Gene Carter, Brian Thomas Litrell, Alexander James McLean, Kevin Scott Richardson and Howard Dwayne Dorough - or five guys collectively known as the Backstreet Boys. Yes, I have been a fan of the Backstreet Boys since I was 16 years old and although I have to admit that they are not as popular as they used to before in this now 1D dominated music world (among other new artists), they still hold a huge and active fanbase who grew up with them.

The last (and only) concert of BSB that I went to was the Never Gone Tour back in 2006 in Manila. Yes that was long ago and my write-up about that was forever lost in the abyss of the now defunct Friendster and Multiply sites. So stupid of me to not even save it somewhere...oh well. Back then I was broke, just resigned from my previous job (after various attempts of leaving the exhausting world of call centres) and such a timing that my contract signing (not sure if it was also the final interview) for my new job (yep, still a call centre at that time but a morning shift) was also the same day as the concert. So after that, I had to rush to Araneta Coliseum for fear of missing the start of the concert. I made it in time and I was actually early but since I'm broke as I mentioned, I did not have any digital camera. Although it's so embarrasing to admit it, I had the trusty old camera with 24 shots of film (or was it 36?) for the concert. It was funny as I remember it because the shots were all used up during the first song. Yes, I was that excited. It was my first time to see BSB in the flesh and I was so close to the stage, I cannot believe it. I also went to the concert alone which is fine with me as my friend, who is not a big fan as I am, would not pay that much. Later on, I became good friends with the girl sat beside me who like me was on her own (although technically she had some friends but they were seated on general admission and other areas). At that time, I thought it was the best night or maybe because I was thinking that it would not happen again or they'd break up.

FYI, prior to Never Gone , BSB never went to Manila except when they just started in 1996 for their promotional tour which is not even a concert. Back then, there were also not that many concerts from foreign artists.

Now fast forward to 2015...wait, happened in between though? Some people have asked me why I was not able to go to their other concerts especially when I moved to the UK where there are more chances to see them perform. Please give me a chance to explain as these were things beyond my control. For the next tour (Unbreakable), they did not have it in Manila which is where I was at that time. Then when This Is Us came, this is when the limbo happened. This is when I was about to move to the UK. When they had their UK concert, I was still in Manila and by the time I arrived in the UK, they started the Asian leg tour therefore I would have missed either concert. After that, they toured with NKOTB and I thought this is my chance. I got the tickets well in advance and was so ready. Until I discovered I was pregnant which means counting down to the concert, I will be almost 7 months pregnant by then which wouldn't seem safe for me. Giving birth in a concert is not a good idea at all. The only good thing is, the concert was streamed live either from home or in cinemas so I was able to enjoy it anyway. Now the last and most recent concert was the IAWLT (In A World Like This) tour was due to the struggle of being parents here with no family around. My husband was not able to take leave and therefore, no one will be looking after our daughter.

So finally I had this chance last February 2015, although not a concert, I can still say that this is a very rare event to be a part of. Firstly, it is the premiere of their documentary movie in Europe which means that this will be simultaneously shown all over Europe (it was shown a month earlier in the US via Itunes and some other movie membership/subscriptions) and of course, the boys are there the whole time. After that, there is an exclusive acoustic performance from the boys. Although not as long as the concert, it is in a intimate venue (Dominion Theater) and the acoustics is so good in this place. And hopefully when this performance will be released on DVD (hopefully), it is an honor for a fan like me to be in it (same with their Unplugged performance years ago). The performance was also shown simultaneously in Europe and will be shown exclusively in cinemas for other countries.

I was so happy that I decided to go to this event. Again, I was on my own as hubby had to look after Isla. I also tried to ask some friends, who also liked BSB, if they can come but they were not able to make it. So it's like a flashback of 2006 all over again. And mind you, I also encountered the same "challenges" on the way to the theatre. I made it again on time but I was so worried because they are really strict here in theatres which means you have to arrive on time, otherwise, they will let you in on the next interval and you've already missed a part of the show. The delay was due to some lines on the tube (London Underground) which were closed and this is the main station close to the venue. It was also due to lack of research on my part which I should've done because I thought it would just be easy as the tube station is just in front of the theatre. I did not know that construction is being done on the area and this messed up the directions. I had to go in circles around the area and also tried alternate routes, which did not really work as I ended up walking. Even if I had the extra time, it was all used in losing my way around the area and I was not able to eat as planned. I was so hungry but I had to ignore that or else, I would miss the start of the show. I only had tea as the queue for the food was really long and the ushers selling the food inside only accept cash which I do not have. Such luck.

The documentary movie, Show 'Em What You're Made Of (which is also a title of one of their songs in their latest album) is a must for every BSB fan as it would take you back in time from when they started and as for me, I'd realised that I can still sing to all their old songs. It came out automically and it brings memories of the nineties to the noughties when they were at their peak. This experience was also different because for a change, they are not performing (as the first part was watching the movie) but just sitting there on the side watching themselves on the big screen. And as a fan, it is so hard to concentrate on the movie as you can't help but stare in their direction (yes, a bit creepy maybe for some but that's why I'm a fan). The funny part as well is once they started performing, everyone took out their smart phones and cameras to start recording and security was not able to control us anymore, given that they were so strict from the beginning (movie was playing) and telling everyone off, giving warnings to those who took photos not really of the movie but the boys on the side.

Who would have thought that the boys are now on their 22nd year and at this time in my life, I am still enjoying being a fan which might only be a fantasy for a 16 year old me when I was just gazing at their posters in my room back home.

This was such an unforgettable night and I will definitely treasure this experience. It was also an advanced birthday gift for myself as I was to celebrate my birthday in a couple of weeks at that time. And someday, when I see this performance being played in the future, this is a story worth telling the grandkids about. KTBSPA!

Christmas and New Year Celebrations 2014

2015-01-06T22:47:00.001+00:00

Happy New Year! I'm now back in 2015 and hopefully I'll be able to post more stuff than last year (I will try; 'will make this my New Year's resolution). The holiday season has been hectic and Christmas week was not as we hoped it would be in terms of spending family time. We all got sick with the flu and both hubby and Isla were greatly affected than me. I guess this year was their "highlight" as it was mine last year when I had Bell's Palsy. Anyway, we tried to make the most out of it. As they say, the show must go on (even if we had a doctor's visit on Christmas Day).

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING 101

December started off with braving the London Christmas rush. As we do not have much time during weekends to do Christmas shopping, I would use lunchtime and after work hours to do this and man, London was so damn crowded at this time of the year. Long queues at the payment counter tested my patience and even the tube stations and streets were lined up with people so even if you're in a hurry there is no way out unless you could fly. What amazed me though are the extravagant decorations of the shops competing with each other for the window displays and Christmas light set-ups. I also did some shopping on the web (last minute) but I always had this thing about online shopping where sometimes I was expecting much but would get disappointed when I receive the actual item, or probably lacking research on my part on reading the fine print.

SETTING UP THE CHRISTMAS TREE

I planned to put-up our Christmas tree early so that we can have it longer. I made it by November as we had to get a new tree because Isla 'knocked down' our tree last year. I hope our new tree can survive this year. I would have wanted a real one but since we only live in a flat, a fake one is ideal. Maybe when we have our own house someday I can convince hubby for a real one. Isla was so excited when I set up the tree. It took days before I finished it as I did a bit of decorating every day of the week. I was happy with our new tree as it seems to be much thicker than the one we had before. I did not get that many new decorations this year as I think it would be much expensive considering we got a new tree. I recycled some of our decors last year and added a few more to my white, red and blue theme. We also got additional lights as the tree is thicker and I could not find the other box of Christmas lights we had. Maybe we gave it away to my in-laws along with my old decors when they visited us here last year. Most of the decors made it but maybe 25 percent them did not survive Isla who was amazed with the baubles and picked them up from the tree. As a result, we moved most of them towards the top of the tree until the part where Isla cannot reach them (man, she is getting taller over time) which made our tree bare at the bottom. But when we turn on the lights, its not that obvious. Anyway, I have put it away on the week of 6 January (Feast of the Three Kings) as a Filipino tradition.

NOCHE BUENA FEAST

This Christmas we decided to invite friends to spend Christmas Eve with us then we will celebrate New Year as we always do every year because it's also their son's (who is also our godson) birthday. I could not imagine how I managed to cook all of the food with the exception of husband's pork roast. I also had to beg off some Christmas orders because as learned from previous experience, I have our own Christmas celebration to prepare for. Some of the photos were taken by my friend. She also made the Paella with her own paellera as well as the leche flan. They also brought the wine and Christmas crackers.

For the mains we had:

Paella

Bihon Guisado

Spaghetti Carbonara

Garlic Prawns

Pork Roast (Hamon)

Poussin Chicken Roast

Plain Rice

Then we had Filipino-themed desserts:

Leche Flan

Cassava Cake Squares

Ube Macapuno Cake (supposed to be an order)

Biko/ Sticky Rice Cake (courtesy of hubby)

CHRISTMAS DAY & THE REST OF THE WEEK

Aside from the doctor's visit, we managed to continue with the festivities with the opening of gifts. Isla loved her gifts although we were expecting that she would love the cuddly toys of her favourite cartoon characters, she actually enjoyed more with the kitchen set.

We spent the week eating then Noche Buena left overs and also moved the bed matress on the lounge, which Isla loved as she was jumping around, so that we can also enjoy watching all the movies throughout the week (amidst the worries of both of them still sick and Isla losing her appetite).

NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS

With my fully recovered daddy and daughter team, we headed off to Eastbourne to celebrate our godson's birthday and for New Year's Eve. It was great to see some friends from there. I also made the Lechon Kawali/Porchetta which I was not really that pleased with myself because I never had the time to buy the right pork belly due to hubby being sick and not able to drive us to the other grocery store where it is available. I also made Brazos de Mercedes Cupcakes in plain and ube flavours which to my disappointment shrunk a little bit. The last time I made these treats was a year ago. Overall we had great fun and enjoyed the celebrations.

Below is the set-up made by my talented friend for her son's Super Mario themed birthday.

Happy Holidays!

2014-12-29T14:45:00.002+00:00

Will.post.soon.

No Bake Silvanas

2014-11-25T23:52:00.002+00:00

I have been MIA for the whole month of October due to work and baking (on the side) commitments...and of course with being a mummy which should always come first. I was so busy making cake orders that I rarely had time to experiment on new recipes except for the odd dinner menus which I really have to innovate as both hubby and I are "bored" with eating the same kind of food every night.

Finally, I have this baking discovery. It is so simple to make and as what the title suggests, you don't even have to bake it. Silvanas is one of my fave desserts and this recipe was discovered by accident as I don't want the left over buttercream and cake crumbs go to waste. Sooner or later (if I have the time) I might really try the long (baked) version but for now this should do. A lot of friends on Facebook and Instagram have asked for this recipe after I posted it. I also tried to do some variations from the plain version - i.e. ube, pandan, mango and chocolate. Hope you enjoy this quick and recipe as much as my friends did. It's been so long since I last posted a recipe here so it feels so refreshing.

No Bake Silvanas

For the buttercream:

8 tbsp or 1 stick butter

1 cup icing sugar

1 tsp flavouring (vanilla extract if plain, ube/pandan/mango flavouring or 1 tsp coffee dissolved in 2 tsp hot water for mocha/chocolate)

Using a stand-in mixer or handheld mixer, beat the butter until light yellow and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Turn the mixer to low and gradually add the icing sugar then beat at medium speed until smooth and creamy. On low speed, add the flavouring/extract and mix until blended.

For the crust/meringue:

Ready made meringue, crushed into small pieces
Butter cookies, crushed into finer pieces
Crushed nuts (about 1-2 tbsp)
Cake Crumbs (for ube/pandan/chocolate flavoured silvanas) for rolling
*Oreo cookies to be added for the chocolate silvanas

Mix the buttercream with the crushed meringue, butter cookies and nuts. Form into oblong shapes and roll into the crumbs to cover all sides. If making plain silvanas, you can roll them onto the butter cookies and nuts mixture again.

Place the silvanas into cupcake cases. Serve and enjoy!

NOTES:
There is no specific number of cookies and meringue as you just have to determine that it is enough to incorporate into the buttercream. For the butter cookies, I have tried different brands but the best one for me so far is Hema's Almond Butter Cookies.

Isla's 2nd Birthday at the "Forest"

2014-09-30T22:12:00.000+01:00

Before September ends (wake me up? lol) let me at least post an entry. So happy to see that I now have 15,000+ views and counting. Hurray!

This post has been long delayed as Isla had her birthday a few months back in July but I felt I need to share this because we really had a good time and we had a hard time moving on from the experience when it was over. We have been planning that for this year, we will spend Isla's birthday elsewhere as a family. We will not be throwing a party this time as it was a bit stressful planning it last year ("a bit" is an understatement really). I wanted to spend it at a theme park, as a suggestion from the inner child in me but hubby insisted that Isla may still not appreciate it at her age. When hubby suggested that we go to Center Parcs, I was a bit skeptical at first as I'm not really an outdoor kind of girl and I felt that I would not enjoy it that much. But when we saw from their website the different locations in the UK, they all looked very impressive so we decided to go there on the last minute (a bit pricey than the regular price). We wanted to go to a different forest but because it was very last minute, we cannot get the accommodation we would like for our small family therefore we ended up in Longleat Forest (which turned out to be not so bad afterall).

Overall it was a really nice place for a short break. We would have wanted to stay longer and we would probably return next time. The place was so huge. We never had time to actually do all the activities and we spent most of our time swimming (well partly because I never went swimming for like a really long time). Almost every type of activity you can think of is available (sports, outdoor, spa, kid stuff, etc), if you think of a weekend break. The place can sort of survive on it's own (thinking of Walking Dead apocalypse type of scenarios) as it has it own stores, supermarket, cafes, restos and whathaves, you name it, they have it. It is definitely self-sustaining (like a small city or town) and it has it's own bus/service if you can't bike your way around or walking would be too much for you. To my surprise, I even found a mailbox and even tried sending a post card to my good friend (which she got eventually).

I made a chiffon cake with meringue frosting/Royal icing (for the first time as I would like to make this type of cake for a long time; typical birthday cake; I did not boil the icing by the way).

Photo copyright from EP Creative Photography

We also chose a self-catering type of accommodation so I was able to cook on some nights and bring food with us. I also loved our unit, it has a modest-sized lounge, kitchen, dining area and bedroom as well as a small veranda with a view of the forest. I was also surprised that the toilet and bathroom area was large. It has a separate bath/shower and tub and also a his and hers section for the sinks on each side. For our package, there is a maid service available (equivalent of room service for the hotels I think). There is no need to bring any cooking utensils/equipment as it has everything. All you need to bring are the ingredients for your recipe. Like a hotel, there is tea, coffee, milk and sugar available. The same goes in the toilet and bath (including towels which come in handy for swimming).

This is not really a beach but a lake which is a bit man-made because they had to incorporate the sand.

Photo copyright from EP Creative Photography

This place has definitely exceeded our expectations and the price was really worth it. Although some of the activities have to be paid for, you can bring along your bike (as you might need it as the place is big) and there are also available ones for rent. This is something that is totally not applicable to me as I don't know how to ride a bike (not the outdoor type, remember?). You can also swim all you want and they have different areas/levels of the pool from babies/toddlers to grown-ups who are up for an adventure on their water slide (like my hubby).

I have nothing but good things to say about Center Parcs, Hmmm...I've just realised that this post reminded me that I have never written about our latest travels for so long. It's not that we have not been going out (although its not as frequent as we used to and we don't travel that far anymore for obvious reasons), I was just not religiously posting our family travels as I've used to. We went to some places particularly last year when my in-laws were here. This also reminds me that I never actually wrote a post about Isla's first birthday. Another assignment for next time. Gotta get back to babysitting now. Ta-ta!

London Eats: The Ultimate Edition

2014-09-20T12:39:00.000+01:00

Because I've been gone in like forever, I will try to make it up for lost time. If you check my other blog (click the Heaven in a Box tab) I am still active but it's just that I've been busy baking when I'm not at work. I know excuses, excuses, excuses. So I have compiled all my fave London hang-out spots especially during lunchtime or on the way home. Here are some discoveries, secret places and some cheap spots to satisfy your tummy. Of course, most of these are sinfully good (sorry health buffs) and on the sweet side as it is obviously my preference. At least you have been warned (lol). Enjoy!

One of the things I missed is the kind of bread back home and I'm so happy to finally discover this bakery in Chinatown simply called Chinatown Bakery (no kidding). It's reminds me of Breadtalk but only the small and downgraded version in terms of the size and location of the bakery. I have also tried the breads of the other bakeries in the area but this one is a winner for me.

Of course, the cronut craze swept the world by storm and I was a bit late to finally taste this, given that I was no way near to any of the shops who sell these and when I discovered the closest place, it involves having to queue in the morning. So I was happy when Gregg's finally had their own version. When Gregg's Nut (yes, that's how they called it) first got out, it was selling fast by midday. It just tasted so good, more like a doughtnut version 2.0 plus the texture of the croissant which I also like. I have to admit I got hooked to this for a while.

When I learned from the morning paper that Dunkin Donuts finally arrived in the UK, I got really excited. You see, we only have Krispy Kreme here. But I was a bit disappointed because their cafes are not located close to me or in the London city centre. Until I discovered that they have a self-service donut cabinet inside WH Smith at the London Victoria train station. I had never been so happy. The only downside is that the munchkins are not available there and it's only in their cafes. Oh well, we can't always have everything.

I always put French pastries and cakes on a pedestal. For me they are on a different level, just close to perfection. Ok, the picture above doesn't do them justice but the small cakes in Patisserie Valerie are really good and I was surprised that they are so affordable too. I got these for me and hubby's birthday (our birthdays are one day after the other; very convenient) because I promised to give myself a break and not bake my own cake, for a change.

Then I came back after a couple of days to get more cakes from the patisserie for our weekend celebration with friends. Good thing this place is close to our office. You can also request for Happy Birthday chocolate toppers.

Who wouldn't love a slice of the famous rainbow cake? I just have to try it. It's lovely to look at and of course, it tastes so sweet but only too much. I got this from the Thursday Covent Garden market from The Red Gingham Bakery stall. Because it also has many layers, it is best shared as one can't finish this in one sitting. This was for the experience too, another one ticked off my bucket list.

One of the American chains to open in the UK is Shake Shack. I have to say they are a bit pricey than the others but it's worth it in a way. Although I have to say that their strength is more on their shakes (living up to its name of course) and other desserts which I have yet to try. And of course they give you this 'thing' whilst waiting for your order which will shake when ready (again living up to its name). Their peanut butter shake is to die for!

HEAVEN IN A BROWN BAG

"Spending my birthday lunch on this (not so) guilty pleasure. I've been wanting to eat here since I read that it has arrived in London (along with other American chain, Shake Shack). Fries (or chips for the Brits) are made of potatoes fresh from the farm (with the farm's name written on one of the wall frames; 'prolly changes from time to time). Burger patties don't look like the neatly cut processed ones but look bulky instead. Bread was really soft & fresh. You get all the toppings you want at no extra cost. I was also amazed at the touch screen dispenser for the bottomless drinks with almost all types of drinks to choose from (Cherry-Vanilla, Raspberry or Orange Coke Zero to name a few). Queue is not that bad (8-10 mins max & time is spent more on waiting for your order that is prepared in front of you). I was able to get a seat & I'm definitely coming back next time to try their hotdog & sandwiches. #foodreview #lol"

And of course I came back for the hotdog sandwich and it was delish! I would definitely choose this over Shake Shack, if not for their shakes. In fact, one colleague at work got hooked to Five Guys too (after my recommendation).

And did I say you can also get these monkey peanuts for free whilst waiting for your food? I only knew about this after a few trips. I thought before that they were just for decoration purposes. Silly me!

I just love pretzels! There are only a few pretzel stalls here and I've only seen 3 so far and one of them already closed. There are pretzels sold in the bakery/pastry aisles in supermarkets but they are not that good (sorry). So I was ecstatic when I discovered on my new route home that there is this pretzel stall called Knot. You just cannot escape the smell of freshly baked pretzels whenever changing train platforms. Oh the temptation! I have tried both savoury and sweet flavours and although a bit pricey, they are worth it! They also have small and big sizes available.

I guess that's it for now. I will try to have an Asian & Italian theme for London Eats next time (and maybe another one on summer drinks/coolers). Who knows when I'll be back again. Haha

The Mango Experiment and Some More Ube Tips

2014-01-10T15:20:00.001+00:00

So in continuation to my last post, I had an experiment the other day. I made some mango cake with the same recipe but this time, I used the mango butter cream icing. I was just a bit disappointed with the cake as it wasn't as fluffy as I expected which might be due to some yolk mixed with my egg whites. I gotta be more careful next time. My buttercream icing was okay although I still wanted to achieve a more smooth finish. But overall it wasn't that bad as my butter cream frostings have always been a little runny lately. I have not been using buttercream for a long time. But the recipe I used called for more icing sugar which I think is required for a more stable frosting. However you need to sacrifice the sweetness (which is too much of it) for stability. The verdict? I think it was a bit sweet for my taste (as well as to my hubby who is the official tester of all my cake experiments). I think I'll stick to the cream frosting for now until I come up with a not-so-sweet butter cream or better yet if I can try the Swiss meringue butter cream and be successful at it. I just feel a bit intimidated to try it. For the design/decoration, I used mango pulp as there are no fresh mangoes available here at this time of the year. I also tried the canned mangoes before but they were more pulpy/hairy.

Last night, I have also created some tips in ube cake baking and decorating after I made an ube cake order. It was from one of those who ordered for New Year and they are ordering again because they loved my ube cake when they first tried it. Good thing I was able to find one ube extract in stock as it is not available at the moment here in the Filipino store close to where I live. I was so close to cancelling some ube cake orders as I never expected all holiday orders were mostly for that cake.

Starting 2014 with a Trio of Filipino Cakes

2014-01-07T03:29:00.002+00:00

Happy New Year!

As promised several times, I am now posting the basic chiffon cake recipe which I use for my Filipino-flavoured cakes. I used the recipe from this blog but tweaked it a bit as I wanted to experiment. I'm sorry if I had to repost the recipe. I have also gone through other cake recipes but this is by far the best. I have attempted making an ube cake years ago but it wasn't as good as I thought it was at that time. I have also tried bringing the cakes at work to introduce the Filipino flavours to my colleagues (yes I'm the only Filipino there) and I was happy that they liked them (cakes were gone so fast and some even had a second slice).

Lately, the ube cake is in demand during the holiday season (you can see some of the orders from my other blog) but this year, I slowed down with the cake orders as it was too much and too exhausting last year. At least this time, I was able to prepare a good meal for my family without having to rush for noche buena.

You can also use half of the ingredients if you wanted to make a smaller cake of 6". I also use the same recipe for cupcakes although you just have to watch out that they don't shrink (I'm not sure if the problem if with my old trusty oven but I cover them with foil once they are out of the oven so that they don't shrink too much).

Chiffon Cake

2 1/4 c self-raising flour
3 tsp baking powder
3/4 c sugar
1 tsp salt

7 egg yolks
1/2 c vegetable oil
2/3 c coconut milk (for ube and pandan cakes); 1/2 c milk (for mango cake)
1/2 cup grated ube (purple yam)/frozen ube (for ube cake)*
1 tsp ube/pandan flavouring (for ube and pandan cakes)
1/2 tsp violet or green gel paste (for ube and pandan cakes)

7 egg whites
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
3/4 c sugar
drops of violet or green gel paste (for ube and pandan cakes)

*For the frozen ube, I divided the contents into 3 parts and use one part for one 8" cake; that way, the ube isn't too overpowering and would not affect the fluffiness of the chiffon cake.

Preheat oven to 170 C. Prepare two round pans (I used 8" but you can use 9"; the only reason I use 8" is both pans can fit into my small oven at one time thus saving energy) and 1 small pan for the cake crumbles used for decoration (for ube cake only). Line bottoms with baking paper and sprinkle the pans with a little water. Do not grease.

In a large bowl, sift together all dry ingredients (first 4) and combine well. In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients (second set above) and add to dry ingredients. Beat with electric mixer or by hand just until smooth and well blended (I've just beaten them by hand).In a separate bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on high speed until frothy. Gradually add in sugar and beat until stiff peaks are formed. Gradually and gently fold in egg whites into flour mixture until very well combined. Divide batter equally into prepared pans.Bake for about 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Invert pans into wire rack immediately and cool completely.

Cream Frosting (For Ube and Pandan Cakes)

1/2 of 300g Philadelphia cream cheese (soft cheese in the UK)
2 c double cream (or 1 big tub of double cream)
1/2 c icing sugar
*1 teaspoon vanilla extract (if you want white frosting)
*1 teaspoon ube/pandan flavouring & 1/2 teaspoon violet/green gel paste (if you prefer ube or pandan-flavoured frosting)
1 12 oz jar of macapuno (preserved coconut sport)

Combine the cream cheese, double cream, sugar, vanilla/ube/pandan extract and colouring in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Fit the mixer with the whisk attachment and mix on medium speed until smooth. Continue whipping on high speed until the cream can hold a stiff peak.

Place the first/bottom layer and spread whipped cream onto the cake layer. Scatter the macapuno strips evenly. Top the cake with the second layer and spread frosting to cover top and sides of cake. Remember to leave some frosting for your borders.

FOR UBE CAKE ONLY: Crumble the last cake on the small pan. You can crumble the cake by hand or by using a food processor (again, I only crumbled by hand). Gently stick the crumbs to the cake top and sides until it is fully covered. It is good to place a large newspaper in your work area as this will be a bit messy due to the crumbs. Place macapuno in the center of the top of the cake. Using the remaining frosting, pipe on the top and sides of the cake. You may also decorate the cake with cherries on top.

Cream Frosting (For Mango Cake)

2 c double cream
4 tbsp icing sugar
4 tbsp mango puree (or mango pulp here as what it says in the can)
mango bits*
yellow food colouring (if desired)

Combine the double cream, sugar, mango puree, mango bits** and colouring in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Fit the mixer with the whisk attachment and mix on medium speed until smooth. Continue whipping on high speed until the cream can hold a stiff peak.

Place the first/bottom layer and spread whipped cream onto the cake layer. Scatter the mango bits evenly or put some mango puree if you don't have fresh mangoes. Top the cake with the second layer and spread frosting to cover top and sides of cake. Remember to leave some frosting for your borders. Place some mango bits or puree in the center of the top of the cake. Using the remaining frosting, pipe on the top and sides of the cake.

*I'm not using this at the moment as there are no fresh mangoes available here. I've tried the canned mangoes but they are not that good as the mangoes inside are too soft and more of the hairy pulp. I also used honey mangoes from Pakistan as they are closer to the mangoes we have back in the Philippines. I could not find fresh Filipino mangoes here, I found some before but there were from Thailand and man, they were so pricey.

**You may leave out the mango bits in the end after you have reserved some frosting to be used for piping decoration later (as it would be hard to pipe with the mango bits getting stuck in the nozzles). Please also leave some mango bits for decoration. For now I am only using mango puree/pulp.

SOME MORE TIPS:
I have tried putting mango puree/flavor unto the cake but I noticed that there is an after taste so I decided to ditch them and just stick with the plain chiffon. The original recipe calls for cold water but I changed it to whole milk as I think it adds to the fluffiness of the cake (after I noticed that the ube and pandan cakes tastes better with the coconut milk). I am also on the process of trying buttercream frosting with the mango cake but I'll keep you posted if it's okay as I will still be making it tomorrow. I have used this recipe by the way for the buttercream frosting. I hope mine's a success tomorrow (or rather later as it is the wee hours of the morning as of press time).

Merry Christmas!

2013-12-25T13:57:00.000+00:00

Just dropping a quick line to say merry Christmas to everyone! So happy to see 10,000+ views on my blog. Woohoo!!! I promise to post recipes soon. These are some pics of our simple Noche Buena last night.

Ube Macapuno Cake topped with fresh cherries

Garlic Baguette, Lumpiang Togue, Garlic Prawns with Bam-i in the background

My first attempt on the Brazos de Mercedes Cupcakes

Our little Christmas pudding is excited for dinner!

Our simple Noche Buena feast

Ube Overload

2013-11-27T00:24:00.001+00:00

Sorry for the late post again. It's not just a case of procrastination but rather the juggling of roles as a working mum and a parent. I have been experimenting with Filipino flavours lately and have finally cracked the chiffon cake recipe. I'll be sharing more details next time as this is only meant to be a quick post.

Here are some of my ube creations using the same recipe for both the cakes and cupcakes. I remember I promised back in Christmas of 2011 (which I think was posted on 2012) that I will come back once I'm confident with my ube cake. Thanks to The Heart of Mary blog (sorry I'm typing from my iPad so I can't put the link). I will definitely be back soon with all my Filipino-flavoured cakes.

Thursday's Covent Garden Market (London Eats for the Week)

2013-09-15T14:19:00.001+01:00

I had some last minute changes for this week's London Eats feature. I was supposed to have another Asian food on the menu but decided to take a break on my usual Asian lunch and have a go at the famous Covent Garden market. With the rainy weather lately, I'm not sure if the Thursday food market is still on at Covent Garden. It's usually a habit of mine to try the different stalls but I was not able to do it quite recently because of the weather. There's really some food that I would like to try but the long queues just discourage me given that I'm only on my lunch break. I'm sure the food from those stalls are really good because the queues have always been that way. One that caught my eye is the American pulled pork..well maybe next time. For now, here are some of my discoveries so far.

I did not actually notice that it was Jamie Oliver's until I saw this again the following week. It was the only hot dog stand on site and I would really like to try one. The sausage (as they call it here) was juicy and full of flavour. It's been so long since I ate it so I can't remember if the bread was any good but I'm sure it was soft. I may have another try next time but I'll make sure to skip the horseradish sauce because it was so damn hot and too spicy for my taste.

I so love this crispy, juicy duck roast filling which was well complemented by the rocket and mustard. Their bread roll is sort of made of Ciabatta bread (or so I think) which is one of my favourite breads. The size was just perfect for me although it was just a bit pricey to be honest.

I haven't tried the desserts yet but I would love to try their rainbow cake soon. I have also tried the empanadas but was not able to take a snap. It wasn't as yummy as I thought but they weren't so expensive either so I guess I don't have to expect much.

Another good find in Covent Garden which is not part of the market but is permanently inside the Piazza is Ben's Cookies. I tried this after being highly recommended by a work colleague. They have so many flavours to choose from and since I'm a fan of soft cookies, this one's a winner for me. Of course, Covent Garden also houses the famous French macarons of Laduree as well the bakery of model turned chef Lorraine Pascale. I've tried her cupcakes before in our office afternoon tea and man, they were good. It used to be Ella's Cupcakes and when I returned from maternity leave, it became The Cupcake House, which I thought was a new bakeshop but they actually just changed the name.

LONDON EATS for the week

2013-08-26T20:16:00.002+01:00

I wanted to try this new segment and if possible make it into a weekly thing. Since coming back to work from mat leave, I always make it a point to enjoy my lunches (aka ME time). This doesn't mean that I always have to splurge and pay for lunch, I may even have my packed lunch but still take my food outside and enjoy the views of London. After all I'm working in a tourist area and I got to see these views everyday. I guess it's only now that I've explored the places around me. I have a few of my favourite places which are also within my budget but every now and then I have these discoveries which I'll share from time to time.

WASABI's Chicken Gyoza Soumen

It was a rainy Thursday and a bit cold when I went for lunch outside so I decided to try out any of Wasabi's ramens or noodle soups. The only thing is their tubs are quite tall and I usually can't finish them in one eating (I always have to eat them in two batches whenever I'd order the rice toppings). Whilst deciding on what to eat, I saw these small-sized noodle soups which are about the right size for a small eater like me. I finally made up my mind on the Chicken Gyoza Soumen which is made of thin rice noodles (reminds me of sotanghon), chicken gyoza dumplings (about 2) and fresh veggies on a hot chicken broth. It was definitely the hot comfort food for the rainy weather and I would definitely give it another go next time.

You can eat using a spoon...

...or use chopsticks then drink the soup afterwards

McDonald's Caramel Frappe

This is one of my favourite frappes mainly because it seriously tastes like ice scramble. I'm not sure if it's just me or I just miss the ice scramble back home but the first time I tasted it, it transported me to my childhood days. I am definitely going to have another drink of this and relive my childhood summers.

Homeward bound and enjoying my TGIF summer meal

Countdown to Isla's Birthday PART DEUX

2013-08-24T01:49:00.000+01:00

To continue on the monthly celebs, I made the last of the tedious (and to say the least ambitious) cake art. I now tried the ribbon/ruffle cake. I only used a one layer chocolate cake with still the same recipe. The only downside on my end is I only had a small petal tip which made the "ribbons" look more like thick, flat noodles. It would also be better if I had a higher cake next time. Again as this was only my first try, I used some left over cream cheese frosting on the sides (which surprisingly was able to hold the ribbons) and then some buttercream on top. Of course, it's still the same blue frosting because from what I remember that was the only food colouring I got left on my cupboard. Then I added some cute buntings on top which I also made myself using some gift wrapper cut-outs.

I have to say this was my least favourite cake as it was a planned pink cake gone wrong. Haha. I used the vanilla cake recipe then I'm supposed to put on some pink buttercream frosting on top which looked peach instead. I just added some chocolate curls on top which were made by scraping off a baking chocolate bar with a peeler. Overall I'm not so proud of this cake as this was sort of a design disaster. :(

For the last of the celebrations, I wanted to make something different and I started to think out of the box. I've been wanting to try this for so long (in fact I've bought the ice cream cones way back) and now was the chance. For the nth time, the base is the chocolate cake. Then you just have to pour the mixture on the ice cream cones which will serve as cupcake cases (and you'll also eat this time). Just put the cones on a baking pan so that they won't get knocked down during baking as they are not so stable. I've also learned that it's better to bake them altogether rather than in batches because as the oven gets hotter, the cones sort of burn (or maybe it's just my hot oven). When cool, cover with frosting (just like ice cream) and top with sprinkles, chocolate buttons, millions or any of those ice cream-y toppers.

Countdown to Isla's Birthday PART 1

2013-08-24T01:42:00.004+01:00

This post has long been overdue and Isla is actually more than a year old (almost 13 months as of press time) but I just need to finish what I started since I posted her first four months' celebrations. I am also aware that I've been inactive for a few months now. I got back to work after almost a year of maternity leave and I have to say it has been tough being a working mum (and full time working parents at that). My in-laws are also here so we've also been going to a few places. Anyway, let's roll on with the count down.

I have actually written a separate post about Isla's first Christmas and fifth month. Here, I just used the same carrot cake recipe but used cream frosting instead (using the recipe from this post minus the oreos) so that it would be easier to pipe the roses. Please note that more frosting maybe required in order to achieve the roses effect. You can just check You Tube on how to pipe the roses. To have a better effect, use a 1M tip (which I still didn't have at the time I made this).

For January, I continued my tedious, Pinterest-inspired cake frenzy. I made a simple chocolate cake and spent a huge amount of my time frosting it. Of course, it was my usual recipe including the mocha frosting disguised in blue buttercream (which is actually leaning more on teal rather than blue). You can see the step-by-step guide from Pinterest on how to do the petals using a big round tip and finishing it with the back of a teaspoon. Since this was my first time, I made a one-layer square cake then sliced it in the middle to make a two-layer rectangular cake. I just wanted to be on the safe side in case this won't come through but hopefully it did (phew!). This was also the first time the we gave Isla the liberty to do whatever she wants with the cake and play (or taste/eat) the icing and sort of make it into a smash cake (which she didn't really smash under our watchful eye...carpet alert!).

For her seventh month, it was still the same chocolate cake above but now covered it in chocolate ganache (baking chocolate and double cream) and added the extra cream cheese frosting in the design (I think they were some left-overs from a carrot cake order which gave me the spider web idea). Before, I designed the spider web in a circular pattern in this post so I now tried making lines and applied the design alternately for the web effect. There was also some left over chocolate ganache which I've spread on baking paper then left until frozen into a hard and thin chocolate topper where I put my lettering.

Since it's also March and Easter, I made a theme for this month and had the butter cupcakes instead. This was also a good excuse to try my new grass tip. I used the same blue colouring (with the teal effect from above lol) and got some Cadbury chocolate eggs on top. Although not clear on the photo, my cupcake cases were Cath Kidston-inspired vintage roses from Robert Dyas. They're just so cute, I love them and I will get more of these cupcake cases next time. Not bad for £1.99 because there were many of them and I was still able to use them for my other cupcakes.

I've used the cases for my banana muffins too.

MARCH CELEBRATIONS : Our Birthday Week

2013-04-21T03:03:00.003+01:00

March starts with our birthdays (hubby's birthday is only a day early). Since this time, we have a baby we just decided to celebrate our birthdays by eating out. No more parties at home (I'm too tired to cook and prepare different dishes) and no more holidays in or out of UK (travelling with a baby would be a challenge, maybe when Isla's a bit older).

We kickstarted hubby's birthday by going to one of our favorite American/Italian restos, Frankie & Benny's. Food was good but with our little one constantly seeking our attention, it's hard to concentrate on the food, let alone finish it. Hubby and I had to take turns eating. Nevertheless, it was a good meal. I was so full afterwards - I should've settled for a 2 course meal (I had a 3 course).The taste of their doughballs definitely remind me of Fazoli's. It has a special place in my heart because it was one of the first restaurants I went to when I started working as a call centre agent in Manila.

Starters: Buffalo wings & celery sticks with blue cheese sauce and warm dough balls

My Main: Chicken carbonara bake

His Main: Steak & fries

For dessert: Mamma's hot crumbles

The birthday celebration continued a day after when good friends paid us a visit. We had some Japanese at Wagamama and I also made our very simple birthday carrot cake.

My order - Yaki udon and ebi gyoza (in the background)

His order - Salmon teriyaki soba (I liked this better although mine was great too)

Our simple birthday carrot cake

We capped off the week by celebrating Mother's Day by having lunch at Nando's (hubby's treat for me).

Peri peri chicken, garlic break and side salad

Last Weekend

2013-02-23T21:05:00.000+00:00

It was colder this weekend and the perfect description of bed weather. So we spent this lazy weekend at home, watching Blurays and DVDs we have rented from Blockbuster whilst eating some take-away courtesy of KFC. Here are some memories of the sunny days we had last weekend. We went to Southwater Country Park, just in Horsham. It was a bit cold but the weather was sunny. We still have some photos from hubby's SLR camera but he never had the chance to transfer them to our PC so I only have these photos taken from my phone and shared via Instagram. There was a small cafe in the park. Sad to say we didn't have much food as they only accept cash payments and we only ordered according to the cash we only have on hand (which means we have to share a cake). What we ordered was okay (my carrot cake was much better...haha) but what I loved was the spectacular view of the lake whilst sipping my hot chocolate. Priceless!

Cappucino for hubby and hot choco for me then we shared the big slice of carrot cake.

From top to bottom: Southwater's lake, cafe and the spectacular sunset.

CELEBRATIONS 2013: Valentine's Da(te)

2013-02-19T13:33:00.000+00:00

Like the rest of the world, we also had our share for the Valentine's Day celebrations. Since moving to the UK, hubby and I had the tradition of having dinner at home, usually eating our home-cooked meals as Valentine's Day would often fall on a weekday. We usually have our 'date' aka dinner at a restaurant the following month for our wedding anniversary or we may eat out the weekend following Valentine's Day. This year, it was still at home but instead of cooking dinner, I decided to have a break and order Chinese food. It's been a long time anyway since I ate at a Chinese buffet. I ideally wanted Thai but it wasn't available (resto under renovation; another one had no take-away available). But of course, the dessert part will always be for me (as always, I baked a cake). So here's our simple celebration as well as our traditional V-day gifts.

Isla & I's gifts to Daddy...thanks for Pinterest for the free printable card (last minute)

Tulips & chocolates from hubby

THE SET-UP
No rice for me, just the noodles (but loads of the prawn toast & crackers),
so I ate using chopsticks (with just a little difficulty)

STARTERS - my favorite Sesame Prawn Toast & complimentary Prawn Crackers

MAIN - Roast Duck & Pork in Noodles

MAIN - Stir Fried Beef with Veggies

The star or rather the heart (literally) of the Vdate (with credits again to Pinterest for the topper)
DESSERT - Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

Now to explain the cake's orangey color (haha). I was so in the mood for the VDay theme that I decided to make a heart-shaped cake. Thanks I still have the pan for it (just need to cover it with baking paper as the non-stick covering is starting to come off). To lessen the guilt, I made banana cake and then decided again on the gutsy rose cake design (sorry I don't have the instructions on how to make it but there are lots of how-to videos in YouTube). Everything was fine as I used buttercream frosting this time except that I ran out of butter (never realised that I'll be needing more) so to fill in the gaps and the sides, I had some left-over double cream and made cream frosting instead (which don't hold the rose shapes that much). And since I've used peanut butter frosting, no matter how much I put on the red food coloring, it just turns into a darker shade of orange. I guess the yellow butter and light brown peanut butter colors are the blame. Nevertheless, it was a yummy cake. Too bad we have to eat it the next day as we were so full with the meal (burp) and also a little tipsy with the champagne (lol).

RATING: Loved the food but my favorite was the roasted duck because it was so tender (and not dry at all). Hubby liked the beef but then he always likes beef when we eat Chinese. More plus points for the free prawn crackers (there were loads; not sure though if it was only for Valentine's). I wanted to order the crackers initially but decided on the prawn toasts instead as I was on a budget. I almost told the delivery guy that I didn't order them only to realise they were complimentary. As for my favorite starter (prawn toasts), they were okay but I've tasted better versions.

Weekend at Wimpy

2013-02-10T15:48:00.001+00:00

Ever since I started my maternity leave, hubby and I would meet up during Friday afternoons as he only works half days on Fridays. When we had Isla, we barely went out anymore because we still have no transport and it's getting harder to bring her to town by myself, now that she's bigger and getting more active by the minute (so hard to leave her alone whilst I assemble the pram, etcf).

But this was one of those rare times where we went out (the last time we did was two weeks ago, not bad actually; guess, we're starting to get our groove back). It was about 4ish in the afternoon and I never had lunch yet so we decided to go to Wimpy. It's one of the restaurants we usually go to, not as crowded as Mc Donald's and has more choices on the menu apart from the usual burgers. The people there actually know us already as we're one of their regular customers. Isla was also on her best behavior the whole time so I couldn't ask for more.

Busy with her new friends/toys

Hubby ordered the Eskimo waffle since he already had lunch at work and I also wanted to share the dessert.

I got myself one of my favorites, scampi and chips with side salad. Ever since the scampi was introduced to me, I was hooked. I also ate the chips with the sundae topping on the waffles (always been the perfect combination for me).

Heaven in a Box Feature : Black Forest Cake

2013-02-10T00:06:00.004+00:00

I know a lot of people have secret recipes and if they have their own creations, why share them? But being my generous self, I would still share some of my tips in making this cake. Afterall, the best chefs I know share their recipes, right? I still think that you can still add your own personal touch whenever you make your cake.

This black forest cake started it all. When I made this back in December (for our own consumption, of course), it fuelled the birth of Heaven in a Box. I never intended to make this cake if not for the left-over glace cherries that I would not throw to waste. Earlier that week, I made an upside down cake and there were some cherries left which made me decide to make this cake for the first time. Since I didn't like the bitter taste of the wine or cherry liqueur, I didn't add any on it and my customers later on, also requested to have it stay that way.

BLACK FOREST CAKE

Cake:
For the cake, I used the same recipe for my moist chocolate cake. If you click on that link, it is the original recipe which uses buttermilk, but I have since used double cream as I have discovered that the cake is more moist. You can find it in this post.

Filling & Frosting:
This is similar to my Cookies & Cream frosting but minus the oreo cookies. In turn you will put the diced cherries for the filling.

1 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp double cream
3 tbsp icing sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
100 g French glace cherries (about half for filling and the remaining half for decorating)
baking chocolate (I used Silver Spoon's Dark Chocolate Cake Covering)

Combine the first 3 ingredients and beat on high speed using an electric or stand-in mixer until soft peaks form. Get 16 pieces of cherries and set them aside for topping/decoration later. Chop the remaining cherries and mix them with about half of the frosting or whatever is enough for the cake filling. Use the remaining frosting to ice the cake using a spatula. At this time, you still have some left-over frosting which you need to put in a piping bag with a large star nozzle. Put chocolate curls/shavings on the top and sides of the cake.Pipe large stars on the cake then top them with cherries. For my own personal touch, I have my signature icing at the bottom of the cake using a small star nozzle.

Chocolate Curls & Shavings:
For me, this is the challenging part of this cake. I know there are other techniques to make these which require you to melt the chocolate then spread them, let them dry, scrape, etc. But the easiest way is to use a peeler (yes, the one you use for the potatoes and other veggies) and scrape the blade lengthwise across the chocolate. It has been advised that it is best to let the chocolate melt for a bit, at room temperature and that it's also easier to use milk chocolate rather than dark chocolate as it tends to break apart easily. But I noticed that the dark chocolate gives a distinctive color rather than the light brown of the milk chocolate. I also realised that you need a good brand of chocolate, regardless if it's dark or milk chocolate, so that it won't break apart easily whilst scraping and it scrapes smoothly. After trying different brands, I settled with Silver Spoon's Cake Covering (not the baking chocolate block as it tends to be confused with that). It's easier to scrape and it gives the best curls. Trust me.

NOTES:
I've also learned that in making double cream frosting, the Elmlea brand whips faster. Don't use single cream or light double cream as it won't form any peaks at all. I've tried this and I'll tell you about the disaster in another post. This happened during the holiday peak and we've run out of double cream for the remaining cake orders. The nearest store has run out of them due to the Christmas rush so hubby got me the single cream instead but I've beaten them over and over again in the electric mixer but nothing happened. Too bad I have to learn it the hard way.