Macarons

Apart from Red Velvet cakes, the current trend now is macaron (or macaroons). HOWEVER, macarons are such a temperamental cookie. I tried 4 times before I even got the 'feet' to appear. I hear, some people went thru many many more times.  Even then, I still get loads of unsuccessful trays of macarons among the successful ones when I'm baking them. So, in the end I baked in small batches, and my success rates went up! I make french macarons. I have not tried the italian method properly. I did once but burnt the sugar, problem is I've not seen a demonstration on how this is done, so it was like cooking in the dark. Lucky I didn't burn my fingers....

But I've got orders done anyhow, and these have turned up quite nicely.  I've also made hazelnut macaron shell.  I've bought pistachios and macadamia nuts. I'm gonna try these too, soon.

Below are pictures that I've taken so far... From single color to double, nor multi-colored. I started with cream cheese, chocolate ganache and lemon curd fillings. I've added raspberry, blueberry and now tiramisu... soon hazelnut filling too.

These are macarons made when I was learning how to make them. Macarons turned out quite alright during class, yes? 

After four unsuccesful tries at home, I got these, perfect just perfect..... I was so happy.

These I made for my friend and collegue, for her birthday.  She ordered actually, so I had to be brave and bake them. Glad I did!

  

From then on, I received quite a number of orders.

Then I tried using ground hazelnuts, and these turned out quite nicely too. Not only that, these shells are delicious, goes well with cream cheese or chocolate ganache.

My friends loved these...

A green and white theme for daughter of an old old school chum from my hometown, Taiping.

Recently, I finally received my slipat baking sheets and mastrad macaron baking sheets. Can't wait to use these....

P.S: have not read that book either...  :D

Next post.....

to actually do this ?  don't know, date day time to be confirmed.  when the time comes, I will upload my collection of cupcakes, most if not all that I've done lately....

another would be my macaron collections.... again, tbc.

appetizers,

 

more cakes, cupcakes, and being grateful....

On certain weeks, I get more orders that I thought I could handle, but I would still accept. I feel bad, turning down people. Put yourself in their shoes... how would u feel?  Besides, its bad to 'tolak rezeki'. Opportunity don't come easy, right?

Last Friday, 24/6/2011, another office friend, colleague order an RV cake, for another colleague of hers who was too shy to contact me directly! What the? Kalau malu nak jumpa, hantar je email... hehehe, jangan malu dik, nanti sesat jalan! Anyway, made this for her. And personally, I'm so happy and proud of this design. My girl said it looked like fondant! Wah, kembang sekejap... :D

 

The week before, Molly another colleague of mine, ordered some cupcakes and a special birthday cake for her mom ! Somehow, gambar cupcake hilang ! Disappeared during the transfering of the pics from my old phone to my new iPhone4. :(

On the same day, another colleague orders some macarons for an evening class. And I decided since I have an extra carrot cake, to sedekah this cake for this special religious class. I'm very grateful for the rezekies that I've been getting this past year. Alhamdulillah is all I can say. Syukur kehadrat Allah swt for all the rezekies that he has so generously bestowed to me thru my cakes, cupcakes and macarons sale. Thank You Allah swt.

Hmmm.. the macarons for KIAM seems to be missing too!

    

And for one particular Saturday (Father's day eve, 18/6/2011), I made one set of cupcakes and 4 cakes! Tiring but looking at the results, it was really very satisfying..

I made this birthday cake (Red Velvet) for a friend's sister.

Mother''s Day cake for Linda.

 

Other birthday cakes, that I'd made for the past few weeks before this......

Its wonderful to be able to be this creative. Upin Ipin and the  MM cakes were chocolate cakes. I'm happy to do them.

 

  

Another Carrot Cake, birthday celebration ordered by a office training partner, Jarien.

 

 

 

 

 

 

...and a special birthday celebration

Moms will do anything to make their children happy. My colleague made me promise to bake a cake and a set of cupcakes for her daughter's birthday, 2 months ahead of  the date !  She's going to be 13 then and is a big big fan of Justin Bieber !  Theme color is purple...  the day before the  birthday party, mummy added another cake, mesti ramai invites nih.. hehehe

   

 

Carrot cupcakes with Justin Bieber purple theme!