Homemade Bak Kwa (highly recommended!) 自制猪肉干 - 强力推荐！ (中英食谱教程)

This is my first post of the year 2017 and I'm sharing my latest experiment on Homemade Bak Kwa. I first shared my Homemade Cognac Bak Kwa in this blog 3 years ago and it has been very well received by many readers.

2017年的第一个帖子，与大家分享最近实验的猪肉干食谱。食谱改之三年前在部落格分享的‘自制白兰地猪肉干’。这食谱非常受欢迎，好多读者试过都赞不绝口！

Tangzhong Wholemeal Buns- Easter Ducklings 汤种全麦小餐包- 小鸭造型 （中英加图对照食谱）

Wishing all my readers a blessed Easter! 祝大家复活节快乐！

I was in a creative mood and inspired to create some chick buns but it ended up looking more like ducklings instead...lol! It's amusing looking at the batch of ducklings after it has 'hatched' out of the 'incubator'. I was just thinking that it is too cute to be eaten when my little boy came over, took one and bite off the 'duckling head' and commented, "Hmm...yummy!" I had a good laugh! 

心血来潮想创造有趣的造型面包，原本打算做小鸡造型的, 做出来却比较像小鸭。。。呵呵！看着这些‘孵化’的小鸭子们逗得我好开心，心想这么可爱怎么舍得吃呢？这时，我家的小朋友走了过来，拿起一个，把整个"鸭头"咬掉，说：“好好食噢！” 笑到我。。。

Super Moist Low-Fat Butter Cake 超湿润低脂奶油蛋糕 （中英加图对照食谱）

I used to think Mrs NgSK's butter cake is the best and nicest butter cake I have ever made until I tried this butter cake recipe which uses about half the amount of butter and yet so moist, fragrant and light! 

这奶油蛋糕食谱用的奶油比平时做的少了一半，吃起来不会油腻，又香又湿润。一个八寸大蛋糕才用125克奶油呢！

Highly recommended Bailey's Chocolate and Coffee Roll Cake 强推百利巧克力咖啡蛋糕卷 （中英加图对照食谱）

I'm back from a wonderful family winter vacations and having experienced freezing cold temperature at -9 degree Celsius as well as highly polluted air quality of PSI 500, am I glad to be home! My oven has rested well too for the past one month and it is all ready for moi to work it hard again...lol!

Here's sharing my new experiment and recipe of a roll cake which I have transformed into a Christmas log cake for my church Caregroup gathering last weekend. My friends who were my 'guinea pigs' gave thumbs up for it and they love the smooth, soft and bouncy cake texture. They told me that they have not tasted such nice roll cake texture before and they also love the chocolate and coffee cream fillings which is light and not too sweet. My hubby who hardly praises also commented that this is the best roll cake I have made so far!

As I was rushing to attend the gathering, I didn't have time to take out my DSLR camera to take some nice shots of the cake, only manage to snap one photo of the completed cake with my mobile phone.

I highly recommend you to give this cake a try and here's wishing everyone a Blessed and Joyous Christmas!

分享出国游玩回来的第一个作品，也是我做过最好吃的蛋糕卷，质感柔软又有弹性。把它装饰为木材蛋糕，拿去参加聚会，朋友们吃了都赞不绝口！强力推荐给大家！在此也祝大家有个愉快的圣诞！

Watermelon Frozen Roll Cake 沁凉西瓜抹茶蛋糕卷 （中英食谱教程）

How time flies, this will be my last post for the Little Thumbs Up - Tea event which I am hosting this month and ending tonight. Many thanks to Zoe and Doreen, the organizers, who have once again given me the opportunity after hosting the LTU - Yogurt theme two months ago. Also like to thank my fellow blogger friends who have shared and link their recipes here. 

时间过得好快，转眼间我主持的七月小拇指活动-“茶语飘香”今晚就要告一个段落了。很感激两位主办人再次给我这个机会，也感谢支持我的博友们，把她们与茶有关的食谱都分享与连接过来这里。

I hope you are not tired of seeing another Matcha post from me. I love anything Matcha and would gladly accept the title of "Matcha Queen" if it's bestowed upon me...lol! Today I am sharing this special Watermelon Frozen roll cake which I have made for my birthday yesterday. It was really challenging especially working on the raspberry and cream fillings on a hot day and taking photos at the same time, but thank God I made it successfully! It is such a refreshing and delicious cake and did satisfied my cravings for frozen desserts in this warm season! 

昨天是我的生日，给自己做了这创意冰心的蛋糕卷，用的是全天然材料无色素。在炎热的气候，做这款蛋糕还蛮有挑战性的。 我还得一面做，一面拍照，动作要非常快，因为眼看面前的冰陷急速溶化，弄得我好紧张呦！还好能成功做出来！除了对切蛋糕的技术还待有进步，我还是很满意这次的作品。这抹茶蛋糕搭配了覆盆子冰馅，真的很好吃，冰冰凉凉的，清爽不腻口，很适合消暑喔！

Matcha & Beetroot Butter Cake for my 15th Wedding Anniversary 抹茶与甜菜根奶油蛋糕庆祝水晶婚 （中英食谱）

I was cracking my brain hard again....thinking what cake to bake for my 15th crystal wedding anniversary. Last year, I created the 'Non-Bake Rose cheesecake' and it was well received by hubby as well as many readers who have tried the recipe.  You might think why is it so difficult to decide what to bake, I could have just decided on a sponge cake and decorated with loads of whipping cream. Well...my hubby dislikes cakes with whipping cream and he is not one who can be pleases easily. (oops...Shhhh! ) Thus, I have to come up with a plain, yet pretty and delicious cake to please both his eyes and palate....haha! After some thoughts, I decided to adapt from my super moist 'Almond Butter Cake' and baked this super healthy, all natural and delicious Matcha Beetroot Butter Cake the night before the special occasion on 27 May. 

Last Wednesday morning, I showed him the cake and he said, "Interesting!". I cut a slice for him, he took a bite and said, "Hmm...taste good!" As I mentioned in my previous post, my hubby isn't one who praises easily too, so if he says good, it must be so! ;p 

We had a nice dinner celebration that night and received this complimentary chocolate fudge cake. :) 

Chocolate Hot Cross Buns 巧克力热十字面包 （中英食谱教程）

Have not been baking bread using the oven for quite some time (been relying on my breadmaker to churn out loaves on alternate days though) and I wanted to bake a batch of chocolate chips hot cross buns for Good Friday. However, it turned out to be chocolate hot cross buns instead! As I have added cold Hershey's chocolate chips (left half a pack and was kept in fridge), it must have melted during the kneading process in the breadmaker. Despite this, the buns turned out to be so soft and delicious and my girl commented that it tasted like Petite Provence chocolate wassants! 

好久没用烤箱烤面包了，（不过每隔一天还是会用面包机来做面包的），昨天的受难日正想烤一批巧克力豆热十字面包来吃。谁知道竟然烤出巧克力十字面包来！应该是用了从冰箱拿出来的Hershey's 巧克力豆（剩下半包所以保存在冰箱里），在面包机搓揉阶段时融化了，变成巧克力面团。即使这样，面包做出来很柔软又好吃！女儿说，吃起来味道很像Petite Provence 面包店卖的巧克力小面包呢！

Melt-In-Mouth Oreo Chocolate Chip German Cookies​ ​ 入口即化奥利奥巧克力豆德国酥饼 (中英食谱教程)

How's your Lunar New Year so far?  I have a great time spent with family visiting relatives and close friends during the first 4 days of Chinese New Year (CNY). We had a long weekend to celebrate this year as the first and second day of the Lunar New Year fell on Thursday (19 Feb) and Friday (20 Feb). It was great catching up with one another over sumptuous meals and CNY goodies. 

The CNY lasts for 15 days and we've got another week before it ends but my homebaked goodies are already running low in stock. (Click here to check out my CNY recipes) Today, I created another flavour of the melt-in-the-mouth German cookies since my family just can't get enough of it. Here's sharing another great flavour which you MUST try, I guarantee you will love it just as much as my other sweet and savoury ones!  

Racoon cut-out Cookies - Valentine's Special 浣熊造型饼干- 情人节特定 (中英食谱教程)

Two weeks ago, my blogger friend, Fion invited me to join in the fun of posting Valentine's cookie together with a few other bloggers on Valentine's Day. Here's sharing these Racoon cookies which I have baked specially for my dear hubby. The racoon holds a special meaning for me as the first gift I received from my other half during our first date was a stuff toy racoon. (you'll see it on the left in the photo below) Hope these racoon cookies will bring him fond memories of our courtship days. 　

Pineapple Prosperity Bak Kwa 凤梨(旺来)肉干 (中英食谱教程)

Three weeks ago, my good friend Lois whatsapp me and told me that I am on news...what? on news? She asked me to quickly get a copy of WanBao newspaper that Saturday night as Baking Taitai was mentioned about her homemade bak kwa in a Chinese New Year Bak Kwa article. What a pleasant surprise! 

三个星期前的周六晚，好友Lois写短讯给我，告诉我，我上新闻了！叫我赶快去买份晚报看一看。原来‘Baking Taitai' 的自制肉干在一篇农历新年肉干的报道上有被提到，真的是一个意外惊喜！

Melt-In-Mouth Pork Floss Seaweed German Cookies 入口即化肉松海苔德国酥饼 （中英食谱教程）

The German Melt-In-The-Mouth cookie needs no introduction as most of us would have heard of it or tried it. In my earlier post, you would have read that I have done it in vanilla, cocoa, matcha and beetroot flavour using all natural ingredients and no artificial colourings here. 

德国酥饼对很多人来说并不陌生。这入口即化的牛油饼干不但很好吃也很容易做。之前尝试过原味，可可，抹茶和甜菜根口味的（点击这看食谱）都很喜欢。

Baked Chocolate Mooncakes 巧克力烤皮月饼 (中英食谱教程）

After making a batch of healthy Snowskin mooncake (without shortening) last week,  I have set aside time to bake these chocolate mooncakes yesterday. I love especially the heart shape ones which says, "I love you" in mandarin. These of course are meant for my the other half. :)

Healthy All Natural Snow-skin Mooncake 健康全天然材料冰皮月饼 （中英食谱教程）

Made these healthy snow-skin mooncakes two days ago. The tri-colour skin was inspired by my Cute Caterpillar Cookies recipe. I have adapted this recipe from my Rainbow Snow-skin mooncakes which do not use any shortening at all. As one who advocates healthy eating, I avoid using unhealthy ingredients like shortening if possible. I have replaced the shortening with extra virgin olive oil and it did not compromise on the skin texture as it is still soft and chewy. For this recipe, I have used HK Black sesame paste from Kwong Cheong Thye. ($12 for a 1 kg pack). I love the great selection of mooncake paste there!

前两天做了这些健康的冰皮月饼。三色冰皮的灵感是来自我的可爱毛毛虫饼干食谱。这个配方是取自我的彩虹冰皮月饼，也是免用白油的。我觉得白油不健康，所以从来都不用它。在这个食谱，我用特级初榨橄榄油来取代，完全没影响冰皮嚼劲和柔软的质感。包裹的馅料是在广祥泰买的香港黑芝麻蓉。（一公斤包装 $12）。

Key Lime Meringue Tart - Blog 1st anniversary 青柠蛋白霜塔 - 落格一周年 (中英食谱教程）

Today, my blog turns 1 year old. I started this blog with the encouragement of my friends to share my baking experiences and recipes. Though I started baking three years ago, I only started blogging two years later as I was hesitant to start one due to my busy schedule. Being a stay home mum without any helper, my daily schedule is packed with activities like household chores, preparing meals, coaching kids, kids enrichment classes etc. I have to multi-task and run around fast to complete as many tasks as I can. (that has helped to keep me slim as well..haha! ) Thus, I can't bake as often as I would love to but am contented with the limited time I have and try to bake at least once a week.   

My second attempt of piping a doll face birthday cake 第二次做洋娃娃脸裱花蛋糕

Few days ago, I made my second doll cake for a close friend, Lois, from church. She had showed my first doll cake to her daughter when I posted it on my facebook baking page two weeks ago. Her daughter likes it and requested it for her birthday on 13 March. Lois immediately placed an order with me and requested for the doll to wear a pair of eyeglasses as her daughter is bespectacled. I was hesitant about drawing the eyeglasses as I wasn't sure if it would look good on the doll cake. Later, Lois also commented that the eyeglasses if drawn over may spoil the look since the eyes look so big and lively. So, we dropped the idea. 

My first attempt of piping a doll face birthday cake 第一次做洋娃娃脸裱花蛋糕

My good friend cum sister from my church cellgroup asked me two weeks ago if I could bake her daughter a simple matcha birthday cake. My reply was I have never bake one before and am not sure how it would taste like. I am thankful that she trusted me and left everything to me. Her only request was that azuki red beans (which pairs very well with matcha cake) not to be used at all as her girl does not like it. 

Homemade Cognac Bak Kwa - Chinese Pork Jerky 自制白兰地猪肉干 (中英食谱教程)

Chinese New Year is just around the corner, (in fact less than a week's time), it is not difficult to decide what to bake on the opening of my new dry kitchen using my new Brandt oven. I have decided to bake the Chinese Pork Jerky known as Bak Kwa or Rou Gan (肉干）which is traditionally eaten during this festival. Bak Kwa is available throughout the year in our local stores like Bee Chun Heng （美真香）and Fragrance (香味). However, nearer to the Chinese New Year, the price per kilogram would rocket up almost double to SIN $50 ~ $60. What an exorbitant price to pay!

Farm Truck Chocolate Fudge Cake

Last Saturday was my son's six years old birthday. I decided to attempt this 3-Dimentional cake at the last minute. I didn't have time to plan it earlier as the month of September is a busy and stressful one for me.

Rainbow Cupcake & Cake 彩虹蛋糕 (中英食谱）

This week my elder child turns twelve years old. She has requested for a rainbow cake for her birthday. I was not very keen to bake this cake initially as it is quite tedious and time consuming.

My birthday cake - Tutorial on how to do a dartboard or checkered cake

Today is my birthday and I feel really special as this year my 5-year-old son helps in baking my birthday cake. Few days ago, he came to me and said, "Mummy, I have no money to buy you a present. Can I bake a cake for you? Ok?" I was very touched by his sweet thoughts and agreed that we shall bake the cake together. So I asked him if he has any cake in mind that he would like to bake and he said, "Let's do something that you have not baked before." So, we looked through my long list of to-do bakes and settled for a 'dartboard' layered cake. Not sure what is the correct name for this type of cake, each layer does resembles a dartboard though.☺