Chilling out this Chinese New Year

I've been spending this brief Chinese New Year break we've had back home in Ipoh with the family. Meet Waffle. She's my favourite bit of our my Ipoh home.

The Delectable store has been closed for the first and second day of the new year and it was a nice opportunity for us elves to celebrate the festivities!
We've been spending some quiet time at home this year and i think many have opted to do the same as well. I read on the papers that most Malaysians have gone abroad this Chinese New year season; it does feel less lively than the festive moods from years before.

SupER DUPER yumMY Lamb chop marinade. (good for 6-8 chops)

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 2 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
• 1 tsp strong english/french mustard
• a sprinkle of flake sea salt
• 3 cloves garlic finely diced

The trick is to massage this well into the meat and allow to sit in the refrigerator for at least 1/2 a day before grilling/barbecuing. These can also be quickly flipped on a hot non stick pan.

While mom meddled with chops; i made a quick mash potato and pressed it into a baking dish. Sprinkle a good handful of Parmesan cheese over this and sprinkle with sliced onions + a dash of herbs. Bake the mash in the oven till top turns golden and deliciously crusty. So so.. good...

Adios! Su's having a busy busy month.
Can't complain! hehe.. will keep everyone posted with more cakes soon~

xo!

Wedding Bells

Wedding bells are a weekly affair for Su.
Contrary to common bells which ring in merriment and joyous tunes; mine goes off like a fire alarm: monotonous and denoting urgency!

When it comes to weddings; my department is The Cake = the freshly assembled; towering + delicious work of art at the center of each ceremony's attention. Lots of pressure I tell ya! I’ve only got less than 2 days to make this masterpiece holding hopes of the happily married couple to recreate their dream cake; symbolic of their compatibility and love.

The way wedding cake designs come about doesn't just require detail thought based on it's appearance; it must also reflect the wedding venue practicality; fit a feasible budget and most importantly; is something that is significant to the ceremony.

I make these tiers of sweetness every weekend. Though many of them may have similar colour tones and themes; they each are significantly unique in their own special way. I’ve come to terms with the fact that all my Thursdays and Fridays will be permanently allocated to calming the chimes of these wedding bells. It’s stressful to think that I’ve only got this one chance to do this right!

Throughout the week I’d be staring at the sketches, thinking of the colours and conceptualizing what it’d be like exactly when the cake comes together; but it isn’t until the very last couple of days when I can actually begin work. The cake has to be fresh! And YUMMY! That’s the whole point!

As I work on individual pieces; it often requires me to make decisions and slight adjustments as to what would be best logistically and more attractive as an end product. Sketches sometimes look good on paper; and I’m not exactly one hell of an artist on pen! hehe

So you wonder...Does the ringing ever stop? Well; it actually gets pleasant at some point!

After the pressure filled agenda of transporting-cake-from car to venue-in one piece; …. then comes the dramatic entrance of the cake into the floral filled wedding wonderland! The bells will now chime melodiously; almost fairytale-esc tunes!

It’s the joy of placing each cake onto it’s pedestal on stage; fixing it up to perfection and then stepping back for a quick – Wow…. *sigh that’s pretttyyy. I wish I could send every cake to each venue myself; because that really is my favourite part of the whole process!

We're all pink on the inside!

... but unfortunately to a minority of selfish eyes and shallow minds we are different shades of beige, browns and blacks.
Truth is: we share this earth; as individual entities responsible to each other. Superiority is self presumed by man.


We are all pink on the inside.
... And what's inside is what matters! I know; you know so.
Equality and acceptance of cultural and physical differences is too much to ask for?

The world is a big big place; but lets begin at home. Home is Malaysia; a beautiful place i feel proud to be a part of. Just like my fellow Malays, Indians, Caucasians and those aboriginal to our fruitful land... I'm Malaysian; pink on the inside. Just as the rest of the world.

Recently; bad bad egg's have stired up trouble in our peaceful basket-o-love. I'm not going to let them turn me sour; because I know who I am inside. They may preach; and there will be moments when jealousy, hate and material matters make me question just how many good ones just like US are here in this basket together. The 'if you can't fight em; join em' syndrome. *shakes head* tsk tsk..
Propaganda and hate filled agendas make it easy to forget our better ways. I too have come close to moments where I felt I've had enough; but i then take a step back and remember the person that I am... the person i was brought up to be and the values I hold strong. They are pink too.
if I'm gonna talk the talk; I'd better walk the walk.

This is gonna be a tough fight; so whose with me?
These ill-tempered hooligans filled with hate need to eat more cake and be merry!! :D