September 11, 2006

Happy Birthday Hui Xieng!

Hui Xieng; intelligent, dainty, demure, creative, thoughtful and officially "21" today. We've been friends for almost 4 years now...and I still feel I've not gotten to know you enough.*laughs* A dear friend and a cherished memory...but a friendship long neglected. I hope the days ahead brings us closer together in more ways than random hi's and bye's at Uni. It's funny how despite the short birth-day gap, starsigns and virgo traits we both share; we're so different....almost total opposites. *laughs*
From academics to personality, physical features and talents, I've often wished to be like you in so many ways....
Xieng; You still are my role model ;) *hug*
We (all-of-us...which would also include most of Hx-s buddies who I've not been introduced to) had a birthday surprise for her at a classy Chinese restaurant in Bondi Junction. Unfortunately....the 'surprise' was leaked....she knew we were there waiting for her *sigh*...."surprise-parties" are so difficult to organize! Haha.
Most of us shared a large gift consisting of the full set of 10 "Ugly-Dolls" which happens to be something she's always wanted. I personally feel they're extremely ugly. I think they resemble cushy pillows shaped like splotches of paint with ugly eyes and features glue-d on them. *laughs* she loves them...so I guess it was all that mattered. We also included in the pressie; a cake I baked for her and everyone pitched in to help subsidize the expensive amount of Lindt chocolate being used. I remember her telling me about how she would love a triple tier all-chocolate cake which had pretty pink and brown decor..with lots and lots of chocolate. Xieng; I didn't forget...*smile*
I baked exactly what she wanted in 2 layers of milk chocolate cake covered in white chocolate cream and fondant for the smallest "pot" of chocolate on top and the base was a white chocolate Irish cream mud cake covered in dark chocolate ganache. I made a little fondant figurine of her swimming in a bowl of chocolate with her new "Ugly-doll"-OX.I personally wasn't too happy with how her cake turned out. From the baking...the recipe..and the piping work on the icing. I felt the middle layer of milk chocolate cake was too dry (from the 2 days of sitting exposed on my kitchen table top as I didn't have an air-tight container big enough). The cakes were too dense in my opinion...but I was a little worried about making sponge cakes as they might sink/droop from the long periods of pressure from the figurines/top layers of cake. *sigh* I definitely need to work out a "fail proof" recipe for chocolate cakes...maybe in my next couple of attempts. The piping work on the cake was "messy"....it wasn't exactly the 'look' I was trying to go for...but I guess I kinda 'conveniently' went with the flow after it started turning out that way. Despite my many complaints...quite a number of us at dinner gave the cake a thumbs-up! A really nice friend of hers even asked if I participated in cake competitions! *blush* I was really surprised...as I was almost about to cry from embarrassment. It's a good thing I talk/think about crying quite often but it never actually happens...LOL, It might be that I'm just too hard on myself sometimes. *shrug*

13 comments:

Petala said...

Hi there again... Just to let you know that I think this cake is very cute and the uggly doll on top of it is adorable! Did you make your own chocolate fondant? Could you post your recipe? It would be very much appreciated! Once again you impressed me with your skills!

Anonymous said...

hie...
do try for cake decorating competitions!! i love every cake that you've made. they're very beautiful! :) good luck trying!
nicole.

yaya schmaya said...

ohmigawddd i want that scrumptious lookin choccy cake!!!! nyummmmm nyummmmmm i WANNNTTTT!!! hehehhehee =D

Su-Yin -Décorateur said...

xenia: heya...lol...I dont usually make my own chocolate fondant...I've tried before but it rarely turns out workable enough. Homemade one's dont store too well either. So ...yeah...I'm a cheat..hehe..I purchase my 'premium' quality chocolate fondant from sugar art stores hehe.

nicole: aww...haha thats real sweet of you to say..i'm glad you love my work. I'm definitely working and practicing to make my cakes taste better and more presentable..I hope to improve within these couple of months :)

azalia: LOL...I'll remember the next time you come over ;)

Sing Yee said...

omg u areeeeeee seriously talented. ur cake isss gorgeous and i reckon it is yummy too!

i would marry you if im a boy.

XD

singyee...

Anonymous said...

holy chocolate haven! hello!

Anonymous said...

suyin, you are just so talented, and young, and pretty too! I wish to be able to decorate a cake like you someday. Btw I'm frm m'sia too(PJ):)

Babe_KL said...

you're so creative and talented

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday to you, Suyin!!!
Yes....we virgos tend to be hard on ourselves.....such perfectionists...haha....

Caryna K said...

hei girl who loves to cook! I love reading your blog! If i had friend like you, I'd be obese by now. Your cakes are gorgeous, really.

Cheers!

Lex said...

oh dear... TOOO SINFUL ALREADY!!!

Anonymous said...

Happy 21st Birthday to YOU Suyin! If only I could just have a fraction of your great kitchen skills!

nomnomfish said...

thanks heaaaaaaps for the bday cake.. i loveeeeeeeeee yoooooouuuuuuu.. and the cake... heh.. and u rememberedddddd... pink brown n chocolate.. HEAVEN lol