Sweet, Sweet, Sweet Delights...

See those little pink squares ? They are called Barfi. Sweet little Indian delicacy that I've found myself totally hooked on ! These pink ones are named Babydolls..or at least that's what it sounded like when I asked the lady behind the counter that day. My first encounter with a Barfi was when I went strolling in MidValley during the Deepavali  week. As I walked around the promo area, I saw this little stall bustling with activity. What attracted me was the lady behind the counter..I believe she is known as Mdm. Teranjit Kaur. As she called out to passers-by to try her sweet desserts, she was also attending to her customers...the queue was..well..LONG ! Mdm. Teranjit affectionately calls her customers either darling or sayang. And if people weren't attracted by her friendliness and efficiency..then its gotta be the little bites of heaven that she was selling ! When I stopped to buy the Barfis and Coconut Candy from her..I was the only non-indian standing in line ! or specifically I was the only Malay standing in that queue...But was she surprised to see me ? Nope ! instead she asked me to try a bit of everything that she had on the counter. Try I did !! but when I got to the pink delights called Babydoll..I stopped..coz..it was then that I fell in love..not only with the colour..but also with its softness, its lusciousness, the way it melted in my mouth, the way it got me wanting more..and so for my nephew's wedding..I packed 3 layers of Barfis in a glass bowl, placed it in a decorated basket and send it along as a 'hantaran'..hoping that they too would love it as much as I do...

Crazy about puddings !

Poached Pear Pudding

Sticky Chocolate Date Pudding

(served with Caramel Sauce and Vanilla IceCream)

Sticky Chocolate Pudding

(served with Vanilla Custard and Vanilla IceCream)

For the love of all things sweet..

Sticky Toffee Pudding, Chilled Chocolate Pudding, Chilled Cheesecake, Tiramisu, Oreos Chocolate Chip Cookie...these are my guilty pleasures ! Although some were made to fulfill some orders..most were for satisfying my need and love for sweet luscious things ! *happy sigh* Last Monday for dessert after dinner at my parent's house I made Sticky Toffee Pudding AND Chilled Chocolate Pudding ! a bit OTT right ?

By request, the Sticky Toffee Pudding was served with vanilla ice-cream AND caramel fudge whilst the Chilled Chocolate Pudding was served with cold custard sauce..but of course, my niece Zara..had her choc pudding with the custard sauce AND vanilla ice-cream ! then came the order for 20 cups of Chilled Cheesecake..naturally..I didn't make just 20..instead I made an extra 10 cups for me to ensure that it is up to mark..(this I say to pacify my guilt ! hehehe)..and today, for my bff's office, I made 25 more cups of the cheesecake as well as a tray of Tiramisu ! After delivering the cheesecakes I came home and decided that with the school holidays round the corner my nephews and niece could do with a jar of Oreos Chocolate Chip Cookies..that's what I tell myself..in truth..I'm a sucker for all things that are sweet !! Hey Linda..thanks for the order !

Teach me..and I will LEARN.

I love puddings ! By puddings I mean sweet soft melts-in-your-mouth kind of dessert. Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry..any flavour..with or without fruit..drenched with toffee sauce..covered with creamy custard...any type of pudding..I will eat ! Despite the fact that I have been making trifles, caramel pudding, tiramisu, apple crumble and bread&butter pudding for quite sometime..I thought it would do me some good to attend the English Puddings cooking class conducted by Puan Rohani Jelani http://www.rohanijelani.com and I was sooooo right ! Did you know that the 'real' English Trifle does not contain any jello at all ? Did you know that you're supposed to bake Apple Crumble on high heat to ensure that the apples get thoroughly cooked so that when you bite into it its all soft and squishy and not crunchy ? Did you know that poached pears with gingerbread cake is absolutely yummylicious ? Did you know that you MUST use stale bread to make the best Bread&Butter pudding ? Did you know that the 'real' Custard Sauce IS NOT made with custard powder ? Did you know that if you made Sticky Date Pudding in mini loaf pans and serve it with warm toffee sauce it tastes absolutely to-die-for ? Did you know that you can never ever stop learning ? Did you know that you should never be stingy with your knowledge ? Did you know that sharing is caring ? Did you know that if you teach me...I will learn and that if you ask me....I will share...

My Humble Abode...

Every morning..when I wake up I am greeted by the sounds of a little black and yellow bird chirping away outside my bedroom window and every night I fall asleep to the sounds of crickets cricketing, frogs croaking, dogs barking, cats mewing..When I first moved to my 'not quite on the map house', I used to be so upset with people passing remarks like 'Eeee..I rasa I tak bolehlah duduk dalam hutan' and 'OMG, jauhnya from civilisation..' First and foremost, my house is not in the jungle..and as for civilisation..the nearest McDonalds is 5 minutes drive ! Just because my house isn't situated in some upscale overly priced area does not mean its worthless..just because it was not designed by some fancy schmancy architect does not mean its not beautiful..in its own way, it has its own appeal, its own attraction..my house is only 6 minutes away from my office..so, I never ever have to worry about getting stuck in the jam ! my house is only 10 minutes from the Sg. Buloh toll..so getting to anywhere and everywhere is not exactly difficult..so what if it is surrounded by kampung environment ? so what if the nearest supermarket is not Cold Storage ? Its my house and I love it ! (I'm not being bitter, I'm just upset with a certain someone who said 'Oklah jugak duduk rumah kat sini..' with a little uppity snobbish curl to her mouth..

After Raya Biscuits..

A short note : I would like to say thank you to Intan Shaliza, Randeep and Ustazah for their after Raya cookies order..

Time to bake again !

Its time to start baking again ! A week's rest for Hari Raya is more than enough. It is also time to work-off all the calories consumed during Hari Raya (gosh ! is it really possible ?)..So, if any of you need more cookies, brownies..etc..you know where to find me ! Till next time..take care y'alls !

It is still not too late...

I should have posted these pictures over the Ramadhan but could not find the time. So, here are the few hampers that I made. Compared to some others you see out there..I'm sure mine will pale significantly..but...hey.....this is my first time..hence the lack of creativity (excuses ? sounds like it huh ? :)) But nevermind, I have got 10 months to come-up with designs for the 2010 Hari Raya (I hope !)

A gift from the heart..A gift of BROWNIES..

Winding down...

I'm done with baking and delivering this year's Raya cookies ! well...almost done. :) Apart from the odd 1 or 2..maybe 3 outstanding orders, I am so so so happy to report that all my cookies are happily making their way to their respective owners..What you see in the pictures above are bits and pieces of how my house looked like during the baking and packing period. Thankfully, it is now starting to resemble like a house again and not a cookie factory ! hehehe...having said that..it is somewhat comforting to walk into a house that perpetually smells like a bakery...*yumm*. Tomorrow....I will be baking the last batch of my Chunky Chocolate Chip cookie and Biskut Arab..after that, it will be time to spring clean the entire house...:) ...after that, I will sit down...and think of the perfect and best way to thank all my cookie-agents...:)

Cookies OTW !

I delivered my first batch of Raya cookies on 02.09.209. They were for the staff of UniKL, Kuala Lumpur. Totalling 67 jars of a combination of cookies, I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

LAST CALL AT THE COOKIE BAR !

Dear all, just wanna let you know that the last day for ordering my cookies will be this coming Monday (07.09.2009). For current orders, I will try my very best to deliver by 14.09.2009. Orders logged-in between today (05.09.2009) and Monday (07.09.2009) will be delivered no later than 18.09.2009 insya'allah..Looking ahead, I will start taking orders for Shepherd's Pie, Cottage Pie, Lasagne, Mini Chicken/Beef/Sardine Pies, Chicken/Beef Potato Gratin, Potato Gratin with Cheese Topping, Baked Macaroni..even Spaghetti Bolognaise to cater for your Raya Open Houses beginning from 24.09.2009. Please state your function date, no. of people and function time when emailing/texting your orders. As for desserts, I can do the basic Vanilla/Chocolate cupcakes with simple (and i really mean simple *smile*) buttercream topping, Luscious Caramel Pudding, Chilled Cheesecake, Tiramisu, Fruit Tartlets, Butterless Moist Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache, Carrot Cake with CreamCheese Topping, Apple Cake with CreamCheese Topping and last but not least, Brownies ! I look forward to hearing from you !

Hampers by Luscious Treats

This year, Luscious Treats is happy to introduce their Luscious Hampers to the public. For this Aidil Fitri season we will have two (2) designs..namely Luscious Pink and Luscious Lilac.

MY TIRAMISU...

I had my first encounter with the most delicious Tiramisu EVER @ this little Italian restaurant round the corner from Harrods. Their tiramisu was to-die-for ! It was just nice..the texture, the sweetness, the coffee..everything was to perfection. Since then, I've been trying ever so hard to achieve that perfection..recipe after recipe, disaster after disaster..until I found this particular recipe..after tweaking it to adapt to our culture and taste..I think I've found MY perfect tiramisu.

Cookies ! Cookies ! Cookies !

Dear all, it is that time of year again for when cookies RULE !! :) True to the tradition of Hari Raya and following the success (albeit small) of last year's cookie project by us (Azlin & Azlia Ahmad) together with our Super Cookie Agents, this year, we (now affectionately known as the Luscious Treats Sisters :)) will be making and selling straight from our ovens, made with love, using only the best and premium ingredients homemade cookies for this coming Hari Raya festival. Purchase of every 2 jars of our yummy cookies and we will deliver your cookies in a delightful rectangular box (which happens to also be ideal for gifts !). I am also happy to inform that there are no changes in the pricelist..! Worry not...my cookies are priced very very reasonably ! I will, as soon as possible, be putting up the pricelist and the picture of the cookie box on this blogspot. Please be patient and check periodically for the listing. Here's the list of cookies : (from last year) 1. Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookie 2. Cruncy Gingersnaps 3. Biskut Arab (new ones) 1. Crispy Oatmeal Raisin 2. Pineapple Tarts

Note : * For the Pineapple Tarts - I require at least 1 week notice

* Other cookies - 3 days

I hope to hear from many of you (and many more !). Do give our cookies a try ! I assure you, you won't be disappointed...

Thank you..

A personal note to Puan Zurina of Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Damansara and Tina of Subang Jaya...

Thank you for your order/s of my brownies..it is truly appreciated.

'Happy Mother's Day'

Trial Run..

I made these cuppies for my nephew, Mirza's Red Class & my niece, Zara's Yellow Class of Al-Hidayah Pre School at Bukit Damansara ..I have to admit that it is not a very good first attempt at fondant cupcake. But worry not as I will be attending a Fondant Cupcake class this Saturday ! Anyway, these cuppies here were supposed to have little pink and yellow bears on them but after my poor attempt at decorating, the bears came out looking like CATS ! hehehe..having said that, I'm happy to say that I have found 2 reliable basic cupcake recipes..so with that sorted, I now just need to work on the decorating part ! Which is the most difficult !

Zarah's Order

My gym trainer ordered these ! I know it sounds really weird..but for someone who is obsessed about weight...Zarah is crazy about all things that are sweet to a distraction..of course if I tell her that I've had a cuppy or two, rest assured the 1 hour training session would make an army training session look like a walk in the park ! Nevertheless, thanks for your order, Zarah !

Tina's Order

Thank you, Tina ! for her order of brownies..the cuppies are little sweet gifts from Luscious Treats..

My 1st Miniature Cakes...

I love looking at pretty baby cakes. After going through and reading the book on 'baby cakes' by Julie Le Clerc, I was truly inspired. Having said that, I must admit that sometimes my inability to 'think out of the box' dampens my attempt to be creative. At the recent Miniature Cakes class held at CakeConnection Sdn.Bhd., I tried my hand at making miniature cakes using fondant as its decorating substance. As I listened to the instructor, Lynette..I started to have 2nd thoughts about the class as it was beginning to sound rather daunting for a 1st timer like me. But I went ahead with the class anyway...and managed to produce the above ! Nevermind that it took me 3 hours to complete two teeny weeny cakes but I was supersatisfied that I actually did it ! Would I attempt these baby cakes again ? Most definately ! although for the meantime it is likely that the designs would be very straightforward and simple...meanwhile, I shall continue to better myself !

For the love of CUPCAKES !

I traded my chicken pies for my cousin's yummylicious buttercream cupcakes !

(http://inawhiz.blogspot.com)

Pretty Cupcakes In A Row....

Most of the time when I make cupcakes for my nephews & niece, I simply top them with some basic chocolate frosting and sprinkle some colourful sprinkles on them. However, seeing how visually stimulated these kids are, I decided to learn some basic cupcake decorating skills. So, off I went to attend a class called Cupcake101 conducted by Cake Connection (http://www.cakeconnection.com.my/) and here's the end result ! Safe to say, that I think I can now vary the deco on the cupcakes for my nephews..Hats off to all those bakers out there for producing those delicate and exquisitely designed cuppies coz I now know that they aren't easy at all !

MUCHAS GRACIAS

To :

1. Legal Department of Media Prima Berhad.

2. Azreen

3. Azlil & Friends

4. Julie & Pak Tam

5. Sharifah Azlynn

6. Achen

7. Ustazah

8. Kak Shida

Thank you from the bottom of my heart !

CRAZY ABOUT PASTA !

If you asked me to choose between rice & pasta I can safely tell you that I would choose pasta EVERYTIME ! Yes, I am mad about pasta. Be it with tomato based sauce, white sauce or plain with just olive oil, I love pasta to a distraction ! Hence, the inclusion of pasta in my list. I make Lasagnes and Baked Pasta (in bolognaise sauce). Though I started out making pasta sauce with help from bottled pasta sauce, I now make my own pasta sauce from scratch. It requires a little bit of time but I think its worth the effort. All orders for lasagne or baked pasta will be baked in a rectangular foil baking dish unless there's a request for it to be baked in a casserole dish (like in the picture).

AN APPLE A DAY..

Apple Cakes are the next best thing to Carrot Cakes. This simple cake is made to taste even better with a light topping of lemon flavoured buttercream. I usually make this early morning and serve it as part of a 'healthy' breakfast..as the saying goes 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' *LOL*

MY CHILLED CREAMY CHEESECAKE..

This delightful little chilled cheesecake is the perfect way to end that perfect dinner. I can make them in a casserole dish where you can scoop it out and dish it onto your dessert plate or the lazy way out is for me to make individual ones (like in the picture) for you to serve to your guests. It is usually topped with fruit cocktail but this is totally up to you. Personally, I prefer to have it plain with a cup of coffee.

POTATO GOODNESS

This dish is a favourite in my family. We have it almost every Monday coz that's when I cook dinner at my parents house. Shepherd's Pie or Cottage Pie, depending on the filling, is a dish that will suit adults and children alike. For catered small dinner parties I deliver the pies in a rectangular ceramic baking dish. For birthday parties or potluck parties, they will come in a rectangular foil baking dish. And if so required I can also make them in individual mini size.

SWEET TREATS IN A CUP

I'd like to say..that my mother's Caramel Pudding is the best EVER !! So, that's why I've included it in my list. Its soft, its sweet and the best part is, it taste even better after a few days in the fridge. You can have it warm or, the way I like it, cold..preferably a day old. For small function orders, I make them in these little glasses. For bigger orders they will come in little plastic cups.

MY COOKIES COLLECTION

Last Hari Raya season I hopped on the bandwagon of cookie makers to sell cookies . Armed with only basic cookie baking skills I started distributing samples of my cookies . Here are the cookies I made last year : Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookie, Moonlight Kisses, GingerSnaps & Melting Moments @ Biskut Arab. Since then, I have added a couple more recipes to my biscuits repertoire..and they are Coconut Delight, Crunchy Almond Oatmeal, Almond Raisin Drop & Peanut Butter Crunch. For cookie lovers out there, my biscuits are available all year round and I only make when there is an order. I do not keep stock. So, all orders for my cookies will be freshly made. For the festive season this year, for every 2 jars of cookies purchased, it will be delivered in a pretty little box . These will make great simple gifts for those looking for affordable yet elegant gift for friends or clients.

LITTLE BITES OF COMFORT

Filled with vanilla custard topped with fresh fruits, these tartlets are super-delicious. Although tedious to make, fruit tartlets are a pretty sight at tea-parties. Not only are they great tasting, they make a refreshing dessert thanks to the array of fresh fruits.

These pies are my pride and joy coz not only I enjoy making them I love eating them too ! My personal favourite is ones with creamy chicken filling. I also make ones with beef, sardine & corned beef filling. It's great for parties ! Although I have to admit that I frequently have them for breakfast too..

MY CHOCOLATE TREATS

I make my brownies with a crusty top and fudgy insides. My brownies are simple. No fancy ingredients in them just good quality butter , delicious melted chocolate, eggs and flour. You can eat them cold or warm with a big dollop of ice-cream or with a light drizzle of chocolate sauce.

CARROT DELIGHT

This is my Apple Sauce Moist Carrot Cake. Allow me to be a little 'perasan' by saying that this cake of mine is absolutely delicious ! Its soft, its moist, its light..its..simply put..so sedap..Unlike most other lovers of Carrot Cake, I like it without the Cream Cheese topping. But, having said that..I do make them with the topping should the order be as such..otherwise, I think its lovely on its own. As for looks..like all other teacakes its nothing much in the 'looks' department but fortunately it does make it up by tasting good.

Something New..

I'm not the most articulate person. So please bear with me if you find my blog rather dull and textbook like. I'm here to share my love and passion for cooking and baking. Though I'm nowhere near to some of my fellow bakers, I still would like to try..who knows..maybe somewhere out there..there's just some odd 1 or 2 or 10 or 100 who would find my goodies worth a try...(smile)