2 posts tagged “sponge cake”
yay! I finally took the initiative to get a basic banner + renovate the blog.
I've always wanted a different focus for my blog and hence the makeover! :D
The banner idea has been stuck in my head for sometime and it was only today (even though I'm quite pressed for time) that I've decided to play around with PS & put it into little bits of data/pixels! [edit: I just C+P my display piccie and fiddled with it in PS - it does look less like a product that came from MS paint now haha - less kitsch I guess :S )
The results are mediocre. Although, I know a few more PS functions now! :D
I was thinking of moving to WordPress but I'm not familiar with all the coding thats req'd.
Besides, there's alot of precious photos on this blog...so cbb to move it all to another site.
Well, this year - I've been more involved with uni ministry work - so I'd like to maybe put some things about it here.
As well, this year marks the year in which I can successfully bake a sponge! YAHOO WAKA WAKA.
Thanks to 2 special friends who gave me tips:
special mention goes to Jess -- my dear uni friend who really gave me the secret step (well I think so anyway)
as well as to Lisa - who gave me the inspiration to start getting into food and esp. baking to begin with!
And also mum who has always suggested that I took too long to mix the flour into the batter - :)
And also for washing up the bowls and odd bits & pieces when I'm late to work and just rush off---
You have no idea how many comments she's made on the sponges that I've made in the past...
"This is soo hard that you can kill a dog with it." (meaning if you throw one at Maxi - the collie we're looking after)
"Ok, one slice is enough - its so tough I get tired of chewing it" [edit: OK, I made this comment up, but whenever I've made a sponge it's never been finished in one go. That said, the sponge made for my dad was finished at the one go & we were hungry for more!]
Well, last week - my dad was successful in being elected as deacon of the Chinese congregation at church - and to celebrate I just made a sponge - which turned out extremely well.
I don't want to brag, but it was SUPER good. Yes I brag. :P
It was just the right texture - with a crusty top - all it needed was fresh whipped cream which we finally ate it with.
The most rewarding comment I received was from dad who said that "perhaps Ada's sponge surpasses that of mum's" -- which is a really huge compliment!!
Then mum said "Well she does learn from the best" XD.
Bloggin off - kwana
While I'm patiently waiting for the download of the latest chapter of the Naruto manga to finish (DARN IT! Someth must be stuck...its still on 31% ever since I left to continue on with some study...) I've been pondering the best way to put forth what I've come to understand about justice, mercy, grace and human error into a succinct sort of paragraph. This is what I was referring to in the last post (the Atheism talk I heard at the EU meeting on monday). It really struck out at me and I'm pretty content about this little tidbit of info that been added into my head!
Another thing that I've learnt (and I guess in case I ever forget - I can always come back here) is how to most accurately palpate the brachial artery - that is to use for measuring one's blood pressure. I had the most difficult time when I tried to palpate it in my client --- it was literally 5 mins or poking my finger nails into his upper arm. Another factor is that he does have an over-sufficient amount of subcutaneous fat which doesn't make my job of reading his BP any easier!
So I just ended up placing the stethoscope over where I knew the artery ran and just hoped for the best! I was so glad to find that I could hear his pulse running thru! (yay - "What a fluke!"). I later told my supervisor about it and he told that he had a tip for finding the artery.
Ask the patient to extend their arm. Find the tendons of the biceps mm. Palpate sl. medial to these tendons and it can be quite easily found because the mm belly isn't in the way!
Also most recently I've been trying to find an ideal place to have High Tea! It stands for all things yummy and decadent. Just the way God intended sweets & alike to be!!! Honestly though, you CANNOT skimp on good quality deserts and mini-cucumber sandwiches!! And SCONES! I am the greatest lover of these buttery delectables - bring on the jam and cream!
Most people have an obession with sweet stuff I think. Even from a young age - I think we're hard-wired to love sweet things! Here are some of my recent culinary artworks!
As you can most possibly tell - I have a slight obession with strawberries and cream. The most destined pair of foods ever! The cake on the left most was for my dear friend Lisa's 21st. The 2nd is just a slice of it. Its meant to be a sponge but the bottom layer turned out quite dense. Due to poor technique.
The right most pics were made for my work-mates birthday (age undisclosed hehe)--its basically the same sponge recipe with choc & rum icing and strawberry slices again. Quite decadent but without cream, I feel something essential is missing.
Below are more piccies of the choc tour I took my pal Lisa to...(better and less blurry pics thank goodness)
Left-most is the display of Chocs at DJ in the city - the stuff looks pretty alright, although lacking the somewhat more 'connoisseur' /refined look of the other choc stores we had visited earlier. They have the most wonderful looking penguin chocs - its filled with apricot (?) praline - I had a similar one when I was in holidays in Tassie! :)
The remaining pics are of Lisa & myself in the tea lounge in the Sheraton hotel - enjoying pistachio macaroon from Lindt (not a trace of pistachio - just 200% sugar) and those 'hug mugs' made with Max Brenner hot choc. I had the dark chocolate variety - though it didn't taste any different from the normal milk choc hot choccy's I've had before.
But I give it 8.5/10!
Bloggin off - rather long post - kwana
