Being True To Yourself, Let's Bake Congo Bars!

A 3 tier Victoria Sandwich Cake with Swiss Meringue Buttercream and fresh flowers

Assalamualaikum and hiya peeps...days after my last post I felt the pressure coming to me. Yeah, it is not easy to live up to your words. I have started embarking on the things that I wanted to do and the necessary preparations on the projects for 2015 and 2016.

One of the goals was to test ie to bake 27 best selected recipes in the next 12 months...I have embarked on that too, alhamdulillah, and I am gaining inches too haha! I am getting my mark registered soon...which means that I am working on my own logo as the name thekitchenguardian is too general to be registered...but Jane, please wait for me, I have yet to reply your email and those questionaires that you have sent me! So, we will see a new blog design etc etc etc after this, inshaallah.... 

A Hummingbird Cake

I have decided too that I will limit the number of classes this year. And to compensate I will take more orders...that have started! And the classes will not only focus on cakes and desserts this year. We will have a variety of classes, and I can't wait for that to happen! Think my outlook for what I wish to do this year is more structured. And planning is one very very important thing to do. With planning means knowing your customer base, their needs and your capabilities...this too will ensure that you stay ahead, inshaallah...

Macarons in Creme Brulee and Raspberry fillings for dulang hantaran

One of the things that I wanted to do this year was to spread kindness and influence people to do (more) good! The world should be a happy place to live, and I hate fighting and bitterness...which means that I have to forgive (a lot of) people....I also have to forgive myself for the mistakes that I have done....you can't forgive people if you can't forgive yourself first. You have to be true to yourself.... 

A Red Velvet cake for dulang hantaran

Spiritually I will start my mengaji ie iqra classes soon. For this I realise that I have to go back to basics...and learning to recite the surahs correctly and knowing the meanings of the verses in my solats. I have started to be in muslimah compliant outfit, and will soon cover all my aurat including wearing socks....

Yes it was tough trying to do all this, but I must admit I felt better, calmer and more serene. For at the end of the day I realise that I am but Allah's creature.....whatever happened must be by His will....

Enough said, now....I wish to share the Congo Bars recipe that I now bake (I tweaked my recipes a few times ya!) for orders..

Ingredients 

250g butter, I use President salted, soft

1 3/4 cups light brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

3 large eggs, weighing about 60g each

a pinch of salt

2 1/2 cups of self raising flour

1 cup callebaut 54% cocoa choc buttons

1 cup bittersweet ghirardelli choc buttons

extra imported store bought choc buttons to spread on the batter

Method 

Using a wooden laddle mix butter with sugar and vanilla until all the butter disappears in the sugar. Add eggs one by one. Mix and please do not cream the eggs. Add the sifted flours in 3 additions, fold them in and not stir the batter. Mix the choc buttons and spread in 12x12 tin. I usually top with more chocolate chips and bake in a preheated oven at 160C for about 18 minutes.

I have never used a mixer to mix my congo bars, and I have never done 2 recipes in a go. And I love them made this way and using this butter as they stay fresh and soft at room temperature even after 5 days.

Till the next post, bye bye!

xoxo, Yani 

  

About your passion .... and hello 2015 !

A picture of my second peonie that I learnt from Anissa, could not upload my pictures from my MacBook, lol...

Assalamualaikum and hello there everyone... sorry for the very long hiatus, I wouldn't promise that I will be here often, but, I hope I do not do another disappearing act. It is already February 2015, however, I think it is not too late to say hello 2015....for I haven't yet filled my goals and to do book for this year.

It has been almost 2 years since I worked on my own, selling cakes and desserts to be exact. But, boy, have I learnt a lot in those 2 years! And last year was the year that I was prosperous, from an almost zero RM in my account to supporting my children who went to private schools, alhamdulillah.

But, with this prosperity too, along came tests. I was new (well, I am still learning the tricks in this business), so I was tested. I was still naive, couldn't read between the lines, trusting people, lurus bendul.....but, you have to knock a wall first and get a hump on your head and you will learn ya! I thank god for that, can you see bruises everywhere on my head, hehe.

Anyway, it was a life too good for me that I forgot my vows to myself to prepare for the hereafter. I baked day and night. I didn't even have time for myself, or my family...then some things started to happen when I was in Paris. I held myself back a bit after my Paris trip...

Towards the end of the year, I was tested even more. I will not say what they were, but I guess I needed to be jolted by those shock waves! I was afraid, feeling like everyone wanting to get into me, and I have never felt that feeling before...I shied away from my myself....that was so sad..... I held back myself even more...

Lucky that there were several occasions that I had time all to myself...I started to ponder. I had to think hard...I asked myself, what was it that I really wanted from this business??? Money? Fame? More baking? New recipes? What ? What?

I realised that I didn't like the limelight...I am just a home baker and I wish to stay the same. I turned down many offers from the media, politely...

From December onwards I started to space out my clasess, I have to admit that I am not getting younger. There are more things apart from baking that I wished to do. We lost our dear friend Rahman recently after his brave battle with cancer....he died the way like he was invited by Allah...he said goodbye to his son and said that he wanted to sleep before he closed his eyes and breathed his last breath...looking at my ibadah....I have far more to achieve....

So...I have decided that things have to change this year....I baked because I loved baking, not for the fame not for the money (yeah maybe, but enough to support my family and pay my bills-kereta and card). I will bake for money, but it is also my dream to help the needy....

I will honour my obligations in terms of classes that have been set since 6 months ago. I will not do cakes for raya except for certain cakes...I will take Thursday and Friday off after Syawal to do more mengaji..

I have started my preliminary prep on my Telekong Raya project, pooling resources for another baju project and another project to do my mark, getting it registered and begin my other 24 months project...I am still brainstorming on the classes module for local students and overseas, too, Inshaallah...

I also realise that when I embark on certain of this projects my income will drop! But, tawakkal and I have faith in Him. If I didn't change and make this leap, I will never grow......

That aside, I feel that I have become more garang. And I also realise and am grateful for all the marketing, positioning, market segmentation, branding exposure that I got during my gruesome long hours presentation with my bosses in the board room with Dato Shaz.....they all make sense now even though I am just a home baker :p

Close Your Eyes.........

Close your eyes, let me tell you all the reasons why...I think you're one of a kind...here's to you...the one that always pulls us through...always do what you gotta do...you're one of a kind...thank God you're mine....

I recently returned from my holiday in Paris...it was more of a baking holiday, I attended classes, explored new recipes, tasted new desserts, explored new favourites....I pondered a lot! Think that was the reason I went there.....

Now, I have all this things lined up for execution, but...........

You will see it when I did it..... as for now let me share with you one of my favourite tart crust recipe ....Pate Sablee...a sugar cookie dough to produce a crumbly tart base...the recipe is from Martha Stewart's Pies and Tarts book...

3/4 cup butter, from chiller
1/2 cup icing sugar
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 tsp salt

Cube butter and rub into flour and sugar mixture until crumbly. Lightly knead the dough to become a ball that come together. Press it on a greased tart tin....I usually use a 10 inches round tart tin...make holes by using a fork to release air when baking the crust. Chill for at least half an hour before baking in a preheated oven at 170C for about 18 minutes.

For the filling...go figure!

P/s I am feeling tired and sleepy but I couldn't sleep...must be the jetlag.... nites peeps....

TKG

A macaron tower made with my student, it was her first experience making macarons!

Hiya peeps! It has been more than two months since I last wrote here. I have been terribly busy....well all the home bakers have been busy! However, I must make some jottings here as 1.4.2014 came, and left us, that marked a one year anniversary since I threw my resignation letter. Time passed by without you even realising it, especially more so when you are doing what you love!

I should have done this sooner, actually! There has been ups and downs (when I lost my baking mojos, you wouldn't believe it), but I wouldn't go back to a full time job! In my current world now, there is so much love and hard working and very caring people!

I love baking and trying new recipes, but I also love meeting new people during my classes, and they are my students. I love it even more when they say that their sales that week increased when they introduced new cakes the recipes they learnt in my classes. I have somewhat left an impact on another person's life......

Looking back, I realised that I have worked even harder, working means heating the oven for some early bakes as early as 3 am or frosting and finishing cakes during those wee hours. When in full time job, I had my coffee while going through my emails at 9! Now, by 9 am my cakes would be ready for collection....

When I left things were very uncertain, I used up all my resources...after 4 months working on my own I replenished those resources, alhamdulillah....I am not afraid anymore... When I left I wanted freedom of time, now I wanted to give more....during classes I share tips and techniques, now I want to give away more funds for the needy, inshaallah....when you have more time, ie more time to think and ponder, you realise that happiness is when you make other people's lives better....I don't think so much about my material beings anymore....

Okay, until the next post, which I do not know when....but I have to go now, tonight is one of those rare nights that I didn't bake (well, I busted a tray of mini Chocolate Pavlovas...I call them my boyfriends as they are very temperamental with me !) I need to catch up with some sleep. The pavlovas I will make them tomorrow...good night , take care peeps!

p/s   Wait up for TKG (thekitchenguardian)'s press interview, due to be published soon, wink

Team Work Makes The Dream Work

Hi ya peeps! Except for the Kuala Lipis macaron tower drama, I had an awesome most demanding week, last week. There were lots to be done, but thank god for the support that I got form my ad hoc team members!

...first there was the wedding fondant cupcakes' team, Zulaikha and Nadia dropped by my studio to assist with topping the cupcakes and covering them with fondant. Zulaikha also helped made the sugar blossoms...

...then, at the very eleventh hour, we pulled our sleeves together, I mean Fadli, Farhanah, Yan, Afiq with my guidance assembled and put together a macaron tower...Yup the controversial tower that was not a confirmed order the day before I had to pull my resources to get it done.....and then, I almost flew, but for the snail traffic from Gombak toll all the way to Raub...and sped to Kuala Lipis.....only to arrive at 3 pm and was not greeted, let alone thanked by the bride. Delivery was never in the agenda as I had to assemble the ruffled wedding cake above, which all was settled at around 11.30 am. 

...anyway, as much as I told myself I had forgotten and forgiven the Lipis incident, I was disturbed by the whole thing, I lost my baking mojo.......lately, there has also been a series of orders confirmed with no deposit collected by me, and I was stood up. This customers did not turn up to collect their orders.

...hence, as much as I hated the idea of collecting monies upfront, think I have been forced to resort to this...and yes, I noticed that those customers who placed some deposit actually confirmed their orders before the delivery day...hmmmm..

Anyway, as I happily entertained my down feelings, I was shaken out of this when I learnt that one of my customers who recently got married had lumps all over her breasts, a swollen thyroid gland and her blood with traces of copper! With all this uncertainties for her, I can only count my blessings, right....

I'm still trying to pull myself together, but I realise that the daily orders are meant to meet my daily expenses, any forms of savings would be from projects such as classes, corporate orders or the likes...hence, life is what happens to you when you are busy making plans.....

Hence, pull up your socks, moan if you have to , but not for long, my friends....enjoy this video...

  

Hello February!

Hiya peeps! They say that time flies when you are having fun....I guess that is what I am going through now....it felt like yesterday that we hopped into 2014, and now we are in the last week of January already! What scares me is that I haven't written my goals properly for this year, erk! So...I might just drift into an auto doing mode....

...there are many things that I wanted to achieve, one of them is to add value to people's lives....how I do that is by having regular baking classes, now.....and what do you know?! I see many have took off with a very rewarding part time cake business and for those who bake full time, their business have increased! I am very happy for them! On my part I really have to come out with new recipes.

January has been a very busy month for us.....Ibraheem is now in secondary school, Yusof sat for his O Levels exams, Khadijah is in her last A levels semester, Hajar in standard one, Muhammad has enrolled playschool and Umar will be sitting for his primary 6 exams soon!

....and my caking business has never been busier! Syukur! Even though think I need to do some adjustments here and there to cope with the orders.....I also realise that I have been doing more cakes for weddings lately! I won't complain as it sheer joy to be part of their special day even though in a very small, small way indeed! I am happy to announce that we are booked till March!

...alright i have to pen off, I have to rise early and tomorrow and the rest of the week would be a long busy one as I have a few projects in hand....to bring joy to others on their special day! Good night!

 

Swinging into 2014!

Hiya peeps! I have been away from this blog way too long that I don't know where to begin! It has been almost 7 months since I left full time employment, I don't miss it a bit except the friendship and companionship of my colleagues! But I do pop by Menara every once in a while for coffee or lunch....

I think I am getting into the rhythm of my new life now...yeah only now, but slowly... from when I started baking full time, I have progressed to having my own studio. It was not in the plan, however, my house was slowly turning into a mini bakeshop so much so that I had to look for a place...my new hideout!

...but I must say that the opportunities that came after I left my job has been abundance, alhamdulillah....well sure there were cakes not collected, or cakes consumed unpaid! Hehe, think that is part and parcel of business, you win some you lose some....I had 2 slices of cakes for dinner just now from an order that was not collected!

So, okay, what do I want to do in 2014!? Bake more cakes for sure and to be able to support the kids private education, that is is foremost important....I was supposed to give a new outlook on the cakes, which idea I have in mind but acting on it is another story....I wish to do more fondant cakes this year...yeah I will be joining a few other cake artists for a Couture Wedding Cake Class with Lori The Caketress in March in Jakarta....super excited about that...I can see doing more sugar flowers after this (really need to speed up with my roses...err I only love making peonies and orchids hehe).

I have to resume my mengaji classes that I have abandoned since Syawal last year, boo me for failing in this department....but I try to do my tahajjud every now and then, and having super powers after performing those solats, I don't kid you!   

I wish to try more recipes and share them here or in classes, as I feel big if I could make other people's life better! That aside, I have made so many new friends and been surprised by my customers ... a few were the whose who in the legal fraternity ant there have been occasions where polis mahkamah popped by my studio.....to collect cakes hehe..

I have been honoured too to make a cake and some macarons as door gifts for one of the nation's most respected veteran politician and father....all this opportunities wouldn't come by if I were working then.....of course, I had to laugh out loud when no monies, yup absolutely no monies trickled in when I took a break and went to Kuching! Haha, the realities of working your own business, no sales means no business no business means no money! But alhamdulillah, things are moving fine now...and I haven't checked what's the bonus from ASB yet...wink wink!

Okay....I have to go...actually I have a few cakes to bake now and prepare for my macaron class tomorrow, instead of updating my blog...err I also have some messages to reply....sabar ye my dear customers:p (I also have this pictures of chocolate pie flashing in my head, oooh....)

Enjoy this video that is a continuation of Anuar Zin's Ajari Aku video ..... good nite peeps, take care!

Banana Chocolate Pavlova .... when the rubber hits the road!

Assalamualaikum and good morning peeps! I am updating my blog because the house is quiet, I have to send Muhammad to the baby sitter but I have a few bakes to finish before 12! But then, I must share with you this....the chocolate pavlova and how I feel now....

It might seem scary , but I realise that now I am going through what I have been reading or what my Dato Shaz goes through every day....the business I mean....yeah I read Peter Drucker, I read Anthony Robbins, I read Todd Duncan....I heard Dato Shaz spoke about branding, positioning, marketing, customer churn all that jazz....but it's when the rubber hits the road, the reality comes to surface, all your energy, creative juices name what....will emerge!

Hey, I couldn't even write properly let alone write using buttercream, but this my friend is one of the things that you overcome when the rubber hits the road....and there should never be a time when you say no to your customers....well, in the next 3 months we are sorry that we would not be able to entertain all requests, as we were booked till December, alhamdulillah...anyway....

What I mean is when you have your own business, no matter how small it is, all the above facts keep playing in your mind...you can't offer the same cakes, the same design, the same packaging day in day out...even MacDonalds have their specials at times! So...this are the things....and networking is so darn important. I don't see a point of of trying to over do the other, but let's stick to our own expertise and network....as network makes the business work...

More of this networking will be happening when I operate from my humble studio, soon....can't wait as there will be classes right for the beginners and perhaps baking parties for kids or moms! I have so much in store but first I need an assistant, hehe....any offers?

Okay, enough of my blabbering..let me share with you this recipe...it is mouthful to pronounce all, you better save your breath  to savour this super delicious dessert, which I feel is akin to banoffee pie and this masterpiece I feel suits the standards of those known chefs...it is super sedap!

Ingredients adapted from Suzareen's recipe....Reen currently resides in Perth Australia

Pavlova

4 egg whites
200g brown sugar, Reen uses white sugar
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp cocoa powder, I used Cocoa Barry, ran out of my Valrhona
1/2 tsp instant coffee granules, I added, I used Nescafe TAster's Choice French Roast

Heat oven at 150C. Prepare your baking tin. Beat at medium speed egg whites till frothy, add a tablespoon at a time the brown sugar at every 1 minute interval.....believe me you'll appreciate it if you beat your meringue slowly and lovingly, hehe! When all the sugar is added, add apple cider vinegar, turn the speed to medium high for about 5 or 6 minutes when the meringue is stiff but not dry please. Sprinkle the cocoa powder and coffee powder, and scoop the meringue on to the prepared tin. I wouldn't advice you to fold in the cocoa powder nor the coffee powder and the fat in the powders would deflate your meringue. Turn your oven to 110C bake for 90 minutes,,,when cooked leave the meringues in the oven till cold.

Salted Caramel Sauce adapted from the recipe learnt from Sarah Jasmine

1 cup sugar
1 1/3 cups whipping cream 30% fat content
30g butter

Make the caramel ie burnt sugar, turn off heat, remove your pot from heat, add whipping cream...at this point please be extra careful, the mixture will spatter. Once all mixed, heat up the mixture a bit for about 3 minutes, remove from heat and add butter until well incorporated. Leave to set at desired consistency. Salt to taste, I used fleur de sel.

Whipping Cream

I used 400 ml dairy  whipping cream, whisked with 2 tsp vanilla until soft peaks. I omitted sugar.

Bananas

I used 6 bananas

How to assemble....just place the meringue disc on a plate, spread the whipping cream, dust some cocoa powder on the cream, arrange your sliced bananas, and drizzle salted caramel sauce. Place the second meringue disc on top of the first, spread the cream, dust cocoa powder, spread your bananas, drizzle your salted caramel sauce.....ENJOY ENJOY ENJOY!

Ok peeps , I gotta go...bakes waiting friends waiting, Khadijah's waiting....

Faith Food Fashion....Post Ramadhan....

Hi yaa peeps...it's almost a week when we first celebrated Eidul Fitri, and we are still celebrating. The mood is still strong, especially for the Johorian, I must say.

For me, since hubs and I have the luxury of choosing our off days, hubs have decided that we spent more time together in Pontian, Ayer Baloi....but I do not wish to blog about that apart from the new swimming pool that hubs constructed behind the old rumah pusaka. It was a dream came true for him!

I wanted to reminisce on what I have or not achieved during my Madrasah Ramadhan experience....I have done more Terawikhs than I have ever done before all in solitude...at the wee hours of the morning...it was an experience that I pray I live long enough to do it again (better) next Ramadhan....I have done more solat sunats than I have ever done before , too! And the serenity and calmness....only you and the Almighty knows. I also did my first ever Solat Tasbeeh...syukur for this with Ustazah Fatma... but I only got to verse 44 AlBaqarah ....blergh...I must continue with my Quran reading......

...so...post Ramadhan, I will continue with my Quran reading and possibly join the Quran reading classes on Monday till Wenesday in Surau Bukit Mulia, inshaallah....

...Ramadhan this year was also the first month I was salary -less....did I peep into my account...no....I just left to Him to determine and make sure that I have enough...and Alhamdulillah I had more than enough even though baking frenzy was only during the last weekend before Syawal....so total submission is really the way to go folks!

I must also say that I have been blessed that I have met more people of the flocks that I wanted to be (not that I do not want to be with you...)...it's all in the doa....

...and now, what about food and fashion...I really think they are similar but of different nature...food evolve and change like fashion...people talk about food as much as they talk about fashion...right! People don't just talk about dinner or coffee...much like fashion, people talk about the producers, the craftsmanship, the ingredients, the style....Look at how Butter Cake evolved into Victoria Sandwich Cake...and from a simple cake sandwiched with preserves, I have added buttercream and fresh fruits! Food is not all about the same flavours and tastes and colours....with styling, one needs to do contrasts and mix and match...ohh....I so love this area...a new repertoir in my menu and it is so fun to do! I am a sanguine, I need to be happy, to evolve and change you see......and the result...you will see a great combination of flavors and colors! Inshallah... 

....and I'm one couldn't help notice my obsession with this blue lens aviator, hehe...love it! We need to evolve like food and fashion!

So...Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, Maaf Zahir dan Batin.....

xoxo Yani thekitchenguardian

Moving On.....

.....moving on does not mean that you forget the past, it means that you've accepted it and decided to live with it....

Well peeps, it should have been my off day today. But, I will be delivering this beauties as instructed by their beautiful sender (I am only but the baker, hi hi). This will be my routine for the next two days. Thank you the "tiger bank" for giving me this opportunity again:p

We are coming to the second half of Ramadhan, and I have been truly blessed! Aren't we all, for we never know that we'll meet this month again next year...so, let's continue with our ibadah and sedekah!

Here's a beautiful song to lift your spirits on a Monday morning!

xoxo Yani thekitchenguardian....

Let's Go To Madrasah Ramadhan

Salam Ramadhan and good morning! I feel so overwhelmed now...I haven't gotten use to my new schedule, and now I have a new routine, even though just for a month....I am not complaining except the part where I still haven't replied all the messages I received since Thursday...I'm so sorry ladies....I will reply them slowly but surely, inshallah...

You know when I decided to tender my resignation, I didn't actually plan that I will welcome Ramadhan soon after that. I have been blessed that this is happening....and what's more was attending my first class with Ustazah Fatma...

I might have said this in my earlier blog post, but here's what she said....going into Ramadhan is like going to school, we reap all the pahalas and try to avoid any dosas....its is a special month, a month that is mentioned in the Quran. One has to prepare oneself for the beginning of the month and during the month...all the syaitans will be tied, the doors of hell are closed, however one still has one's nafsu...desire....Ramadhan is a month to train oneself to feel the pain (of the less fortunate), to go through everything in a very humble manner...eat less, spend less, do more ibadah and sedekah....and hopefully after going through the madrasah one will become a better person, and continues to do the ibadahs like in the madrasah....her ceramah was so beautiful....

...and for once, I didn't care how much money I have and how much I will make in Ramadhan....a lot of us will be busy selling cookies what not and I was one of them....I too wanted to do loads of cookies , but after the  ceramah...she said do whatever that you are able to do, don't tire yourself for you are to do ibadah at night....the terawikhs, witir, hajats, tahajjuds...Quran reading...these are more important...and do sedekah everyday! even though it might be a small gesture!

Ah...well then...I will follow what Ustazah said.....

I will make some cookies and offer them to you, whatever I make, whatever that is available....Biskut Dahlia and Almost Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies. You can order your cakes and macarons also...I will baking Victoria Sandwich Cake, Sicilian Orange Cake, Carrot Cake, Red Velvet Cake and Devil's Food Chocolate Cake, inshaallah.  Please email me at haqyani@gmail.com or text me at 0193945608. Tq, peeps...

...for I want to spend a normal Ramadhan......

So...here's wishing you a blessed  Ramadhan as we never know if we will get to meet again next Ramadhan...

xoxo Yani thekitchenguardian

Bakers' Day Off!

Salam and hi! I am slowly getting into the grooves of working on my own now. Haven't got a routine yet as I still run like a headless chicken especially from Thursdays to Sundays! The days seem shorter and I found that I have more things to do! But, I love the idea that I don't have to brace the traffic anymore in the mornings.

...I also realise that I have to shower immediately when I got up in the morning....thus far I have been getting up at 4 am the earliest...otherwise, you 'll see me still in my pj bottom at noon! I still haven't gotten the hang with my orders...with messages not read, I'm sorry ladies, I hope to improve in this section, huhu.

I have not started doing any cookies, even though Ramadhan is just around the corner....I will take this easy so any cookies for sale will be based on what I bake. However, I will be taking orders for macarons and cakes for Eid!

I attend mengaji classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with Ustaz Habib in Masjid Taman TAR on Hadis and Kisah Nabi (pbuh) and Tafsir with Ustazah Fatma Azzahra in Surau Bukit Mulia on Thursdays....I will do anything to attend this classes, they are priceless...I felt as if I was reborn! Inside I am more serene....liberated....I can't describe the feeling....and after all this years i just couldn't wait for Ramadhan to arrive! Ustazah said Ramadhan is Madrasah...a school where you reclaim yourself, to do ibadah and forget the worldly just during this holy month....fasting is meant for you to feel the pain, to have less....

...when I thought back, I came a long way to go to this classes, went through quite a bit (don't want to tell you), but I feel really blessed to be able to do this now!

...to be honest, I only have one large order in Ramadhan, and I haven't a clue of how to survive this month...but I believe that things will fall in place, inshaallah!

...inshaallah I will move in into a new space sometime in the end of August, the house will be ready by then. I will have more classes from basic buttercream, fondant and hantaran cakes! ...can't wait! My wish is also to be able to fulfill more orders!

...and Monday is officially my off day, I have declared that! Last week I went to KLCC park...tomorrow i will follow Khadijah to register back in college and then we'll probably go to Bangsar... have a nice meal and I want to go to Dian Pelangi hehe....

...enjoy this song, my current favourite...most times this song will play in the background when I cranck my oven in the wee hours of the morning...

Have a productive healthy and blessed Ramadhan week ahead!

xoxo Yani thekitchenguardian

A Walk In The Park....

Salam and good morning! It will be my third day of retirement today.  Am I enjoying the 'freedom'...yeah I guess, but funny I thought I have been having this feeling all this while....I suppose this thought of me not going to work has been in me without me noticing it all along...what am I saying...whatever...it is already the wee hours of the morning....

  

My last day of work was Tuesday last week, however, I had to pop by to settle some personal matters with HR and close one matter the following day...I left office at around 3 that day.... that night I slept like a log, in fact I dozed off without even showering...felt like the world was lifted from me....and then, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday I spent my mornings as early as 5 am baking and frosting my cakes...oh wow! I could not remember baking so much....but I was darn happy!

...Sarah was supposed to come yesterday and we were supposed to start baking our cookies for Raya...but I told Sarah to join me for lunch in KLCC...we were not going to bake that day, and I really wanted to walk on KLCC park!....and that was what I did...felt so liberated, even though I was a wee bit disappointed with the whole park....it cpuld be nicer, prettier, more happening...well, except where the fountain was, the rest of the park was just so, so....really makes me want to go to Central Park New York asap!!

...some people in the office thought that I was bored and suggested that I return to work...no way...I don't think so...but I must admit that working at home all by myself made me felt a little lonely...been "whattsapping" Rina and spoke to Wiz to cut this loneliness, huhu!....and since it is only the third day me being at home, I haven't actually establish a routine yet...I went to my first "mengaji" class yesterday morning in Taman TAR and learnt about the prophet and a sunnah....the best feeling I felt after that. And since I really wanted to go to a "tafsir" class, think I will have to join my friends in the surau at Bukit Mulia, since the class in Taman TAR is held on Friday nights....

I baked quite a bit after I returned from my class, and I can thank Him more for the orders that come in, Alhamdulillah! I am still looking for my own space for baking, orders, studio and classes...but that have to be sorted latest after Eid, my tools and cake tins are piling and I couldn't even get a new oven and cooling racks and the space in this house is limited already, hehe....you know with 6 kids and all, bahaha....

Some people have asked for a class for Raya cakes, and I thought that we should stick to the basics like below...I will throw in a demo to bake a Victoria Sandwich Cake, since so many have been asking about the cake....so, I'll see you in Sugarflours Bangi on Saturday, ya! It will be a group hands-on, so I will not bake extra cakes from home, you will have to work out amongst yourselves during class, with my guidance...more interesting!  

...a lot of people have asked me for a Banana Walnut Cake recipe...my answer would be to try this...

Banana Bread

125g butter melted and cooled

125g sugar

2 large eggs

about 300g mashed bananas

175g plain four whisked or sifted with 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda and a pinch of salt

3 tbsp natural yoghurt

1 tsp vanilla

Mix the melted butter with sugar and vanilla till well incorporated, add eggs one at a time, add the mashed bananas. Add the flour mixture in 3 additions and last add the natural yoghurt. I also added about a handful of chopped walnuts into the batter. Bake in a preheated oven at 160 C.

As for the topping I use my favourite cream cheese topping and drizzled with salted caramel..

...yup...that was me at the park, got on the swing before we were chased by the guards at the park , hehe...I have always wanted to walk in the park....

Night peeps, gotta catch a few winks before finishing a few cakes to deliver in the morning..

xoxo Yani the kitchenguardian

...this is how I feel now, not having a withdrawal symptom from being away from work, but I am still adjusting to my new life...enjoy the song peeps!

Just Do It!

Assalamualaikum and good morning! I have just got up to do some baking. I have been doing this lately...got an early night to rise early to bake before I left for work. Easier...but having said that I have 2 more days to go to work, from 26.6, I will start my leave and officially 1.7.2013 I won't be a blue telco staff anymore.

Scared...of course, anxious? Definitely...but I am already at the bridge and I just have to cross over, no more turning back, no regrets..I just have to do it, make it work!

But, funny, when you decided on certain things, the world will move you towards that direction...and what's more intriguing is that, things were moving faster that I thought it would be...all towards the directions of the thoughts...the goals that I had..

I recently viewed a shoplot ....well, you see I wanted to just operate from home, but "kamalkamalia" had made me think big...you got a dream, go get it girl, she said! I paid a deposit for the unit to rent, but later the landlord wanted more...I could slog for it, but I thought I might as well cut on my overheads since I am new...I needed all the reserves!  

....thank god for friends like Razlyn, yesterday we viewed a house that sits on a cul de sac that belongs to her best friend, which lounge is accessible from a main road...actually it was a unit that we had eyes on when we first got married years ago...to rent or purchase...see the power of dreams and subconscious mind! I have settled for that, only thing is that I have to wait for the house to be vacant, repaired and painted in the colours I desire....so, Inshaallah I hope to move in sometime in July, or early August latest...can't wait! Never mind the fasting month, one can't wait for all to fall in place...it will be my own nest my own cake studio, baking and classes and cakes to go will be available from that cosy place!

psst...I tried a new fluffy buttercream recipe and added strawberry filling in this magnolia bakery style cuppies...oh they were so delicious!

...and orders, my! I must bersyukur and thank the Almighty, they have been pouring in, I need an assistant pronto!...and there have been talks on new business ventures as well...like me supplying to a few chains, inshaallah!

One of the things that I wanted to do when working on my own is going to mengaji...I will start my class on Thursday...I have been trying my best to do solat soon after time instead of delaying...I found that so soothing and calming!...so much so I have been baking and delivering my orders really in the nick of time and last minute, and the orders were ok! I don't fret and fear about my orders anymore! I don't collect any deposit, so it's cash on delivery, and I did not worry about non-payment except a wee bit, bagus kan! Just berserah!

...so that's it for now, with my wifi fixed at home, I hope to update this blog more often, and use my camera more...so tra for now, I really have to go and bake hehe good morning hope we all have a barakah week!

xoxo yani, thekitchenguardian...