Saturday, May 23, 2015

gathering with my dear friends

We hear the saying about "Real friends treat you like family"  and I can attest to that. I have my dearest friend that introduced me to her entire family some 20+ years ago. From day one, they welcomed me and treated me with so much love and made me feel so at home with her entire family. I am forever grateful to her and her entire family.

This afternoon, we are so happy we get to spent time together with old friends and enjoy each others company. We laugh, talk and relax and also share some good food together.

We had some good food and ... oh my goodness,, lots of treats and desserts!!!

First, Crissie & Hui surprised us with my favorite pastry and an irresitible cheese cake..
Annie and Dave walked in with the most huge and lovely roses from Annie's garden. She baked the most delicious Hawaiian bundt cake. It is really good bundt. Annie bakes really good as always.




I gave Oring direction to our house and guess what... I gave her the wrong exit number. Poor Oring & Michael went pass our exit by 10 miles. When she called, I had Dave talked to Oring to try to give direction to Oring but after talking over the phone for 20 minutes, Oring & Michael were still lost and driving in circles. Dave and Hui had to drive to Oring and Michael and bring them to our house.


Well, as expected, Primie is always late... hey.. late better than never.. everybody forgives her. Generous Primie brought a bunch of beautiful pink roses too and not to mention Baskin Robbin's ice cream cake... and how are we supposed to eat so many desserts, huh ??

All the desserts are super yummy! Annie & Dave have to leave earlier than everybody else as Dave has schedule to be home at a certain time to milk his cows.

So so glad of our awesome gathering and reunion and.that we hope to make this a yearly reunion tradition for all us!!


Saturday, May 9, 2015

cranberry raisin coffee bread

I have had this bread recipe book for awhile now and have not made any recipe yet from this book. Last night I lazily browse through this book and this recipe caught my eye. Like any other recipe I seldom follow the recipe to the T.

Turns out my bread turned out to be denser then regular bread and much lighter than a cake. It is like a coffee cake/bread.... will be good served at breakfast, brunch and even as dessert.... why?  well, I added brown sugar :)

My recipe will follow later, for now here is a picture.




Simple Frosted Cake

This is my 3rd frosted cake. I wanted to bake a cake in honor of mother's day and wish Happy Mother's Day to all mothers. I also wanted to bake a cake not using the boxed cake mix. I looked up and selected this recipe Moist Yellow Cake. I did a slight modification to the recipe to my version and I also tried this simple frosting to give a mother's touch.

I like to frost the naked icing on the sides so the cake is not too heavily loaded with the icing, plus I just like the look of the rustic look on the cake. I topped the cake with swirls of roses and sprinkled with gold pearls... simple but not too bare, Sprinkles give it an extra touch and glow! I hope this cake won't disappoint those who get to eat them :)

Recipe and directions below. Enjoy!






I only make 1/2 a recipe of Buttercream frosting based and found at foodnetwork, here, I added a tablespoon of rasberry preserve for a hint of color to show a little off white, almost beige. I almost ran out of frosting when I frosting the bottom trims... thus you can see the bottom trims look a little sloopy.. uh oh.. if I don't tell you don't too, ok?

Here is the recipe on the cake:

1 cup (2 sticks) of butter, (I used margarine)
2 cups of sugar
4 eggs (I used only 3 eggs)
3 cups of self-rising flour 
1 cup of whole milk (I used 2% milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Grease the sides of cake panLine with parchment paper bottom of (2) 9 inch cake pans (or use 3 8-inch)Using a mixer, cream butter until fluffy.Add sugar and continue to cream for about 7 minutes.Add eggs one at a time. Beat well after each egg is added.Add flour and milk (alternating to creamed mixture), beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla to mix; until just mixed.Divide batter equally into the cake pans.Knock lightly above your counter the pans flat onto counter several times to release of any air bubbles. This will help you have a more level cake.Bake for 35 – 40 minutes until done. (will 25 – 30 minutes if using 8-inch and 3 pans)Cool in pans for 5 – 10 minutes.Remove cakes on separate plates and cool completely.

Prepare frosting according to recipe from on the above link.

Frost cake and store cake on cool place or refrigerator for at least a couple hours to let frost setServe.