Cranberry Upside Down Muffins

I wanted to make Pandan Marble Cake so bad.  Nevermind that my hand mixer is with mum.  I'll make do with a wooden spoon or hand whisk, or so I thought.  But with just two eggs left in the fridge, I had to forget about making pandan marble cake.  I checked my pantry and there's just slightly less than half a cup of sugar left. What else can I make? Then I saw a can of cranberry sauce that I had bought a couple of months back.  I remembered some time ago, I had wanted to try this recipe from Joyofbaking.com.  I checked the recipe again and was elated that I have all the ingredients required.  An egg was all that the recipe called for and nevermind that I only have slightly less than half a cup of sugar left in my kitchen.  I was sure the cranberry sauce would make up for the lack of sugar.

So I made this Cranberry Upside Down Muffins and was glad it turned out just fine. Just a note of caution, do be patient when handling these babies.  They need to cool for a while before you invert them out else the cranberry will not stick to the cake.  I am speaking from experience!  I took the pan out of the oven and started inverting one and was disappointed when the sauce did not stick to the cake.  It left me wondering for a moment where had I gone wrong.

Feeling a little disappointed, I left the muffins alone and attended to my little girl who was busy with her schoolwork, then returned to the muffins once I was done with her.  I inverted each one, and to my delight, the sauce sits nicely on top of the fluffy cake.  So the moral of the story - Be patient and let the cakes cool before inverting them :)

Ingredients

2 cups self raising flour
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
4 tbsp canola oil
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup cranberry sauce

Method

Preheat oven to 175C.
A - In a large bowl, whisk together, flour, sugar and salt
B - In another bowl, whisk together milk, egg, oil and vanilla extract.
Using a spatula, fold B into A together till just moistened.
Evenly divide the cranberry sauce among the 24 mini muffin cups of a mini muffin pan.
Evenly spoon muffin batter over the cranberry sauce.
Place the mini muffin pan in the oven.
Bake for about 15 - 20 mins or until a pick/skewer inserted comes out clean.
Stand muffins for about 5 mins before inverting them on a cooling rack so the cranberry topping is faced up.

Rainbow Cupcakes

I have seen way too many people putting up pictures of rainbow cakes that they make or sell online.  The cakes look so pretty and how not to love the bold colours!

One of those nights when I couldn't sleep, I actually watched videos after videos on how to make this cake.  It looks rather tedious to make but somehow I kept hearing these Rainbow Cupcakes calling out my name.  I had to do it!  I just had to do it!

While bold colours make the cakes look fun and vibrant, pastel makes the cupcakes look cute and pretty!  Now, won't you agree?

Ingredients

1 box White cake mix
1 1/4 cup water
3 egg whites
1/3 cup vegetable oil
liquid food colorings

Method

Preheat oven to 175C.
Lay 12 paper liners in muffin tin.
In a large bowl, whisk together cake mix, egg whites and vegetable oil till well combined (or as directed on box).
Divide batter into 6 small bowls.
Add about a drop or two food coloring to each bowl to make red, green, purple, pink, yellow and blue.  Ensure that you stir well.
Starting with the red batter, add a level tablespoon to each of the 12 paper liners.
Repeat with all the remaining colours - green, purple, pink, yellow and blue.
Do not spread the layers of colour as it will cause the colours to combine.
Just let it spread out on their own.
Bake the cake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool cupcakes on a wire rack.

Kuih Bakar Pandan

Kuih Bakar Pandan is one of my favourite traditional Malay kuih.
I love this sweet, soft and rich kuih which is laced with pandan flavour.

Traditionally, this cake is baked in a brass mould.
I didn't own any so I baked this kuih in a non stick pan instead.

It still tasted good to me with the slightly browned and crusty top.

Ingredients

2 cups self raising flour
1 cup caster sugar
2 small packs of coconut milk (200 ml a pack)
3 eggs
1 cup of pandan juice (i used about 3 tbsp of pandan paste + water to make a cup)
a pinch of salt
2 tbsp canola oil


Method

Preheat oven to 175C.
Grease a pan with 2 tbsp of canola oil and place the pan in the oven.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, coconut milk, egg and salt.
Take the pan out of the oven and pour mixture in the pan.
Bake in preheated oven for about 90 mins or until a toothpick inserted into centre of kuih comes out clean.
Allow to cool completely before cutting.

Applesauce Squares

I was out grocery shopping with my little sister at Mustafa Centre the other day and saw applesauce at the sauces section.  I have seen recipes using applesauce before and I bought a jar just so I can experiment with it.

Feeling the itch to bake today, I googled for a recipe using applesauce and found this but tweaked some of the ingredients.  Here is my version of my Applesauce Squares.


Ingredients
2 cups self raising flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
a pinch of salt
1 cup caster sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 tbsp milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup applesauce

Method

Preheat oven to 175C.
A - In a large bowl, mix flour and cinnamon powder.
B - Combine sugar, oil, milk, egg and applesauce.
Incorporate B into A and using a metal fork, fold in the flour and mix well.
Pour mixture into a greased cake tin and bake for about an hour or until a pick/skewer inserted comes out clean.
Cool on a wire tray. 
Cut into squares and serve.

Baked Corn Pudding

So what is a gathering without desserts.
I made this Baked Corn Pudding for the gathering at mum's.
Since I have creamed corn in my kitchen, I decided to make this.

Well, just a word of caution!
You have to ensure that the pudding is cooled completely before cutting.
I cut the pud while it was hot, so pudding was soft.
Of course, I panicked, wondering what went wrong with the baked pudding.
Only realised later that pudding sets as it cools.

Ingredients

1 cup flour

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup coconut milk

1 cup evaporated milk

1 can creamed corn

Method

Preheat oven to 175C. 

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and whisk until all ingredients are well combined.

Pour mixture into a prepared tin.
Bake in preheated oven for about an hour or until a toothpick inserted into centre of cake comes out clean.

Allow the baked corn pudding to cool completely before cutting.

Chocolate Banana Cake

I really cant remember when was the last I baked and I totally miss baking so much.

I NEED to get my baking mojo back!!

Here's my first bake for Year 2010 - Chocolate Banana Cake. I was supposed to bake this on Monday but I was hit by the lazy bug. Then I was hit by the flu bug yesterday. Yikes! Today, I forced myself to bake the damn chocolate banana cake which I had been meaning to bake since the start of the week.

So with the assistance of my ever so helpful little helper, Tihani, we started to bake. Tihani helped mashed the ripe bananas and mixed the dry and wet ingredients. This was rather easy to put together, just like any other foolproof recipes I ever tried.

Well, this was the result - a rich, moist, chocolatey cake with tender crumbed top and subtle hint of banana.


Ingredients

1 3/4 cup self raising flour
1 1/2 cup caster sugar
3/4 cup cocoa
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas
1 cup warm water
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla essence

Method

Preheat oven to 175C. Grease a loaf tin.
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa and salt.
In another bowl, combine eggs, mashed bananasm water, milk, oil and vanilla essence.
Pour the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk well till everything is combined. Note that batter will be thin.
Bake in preheated oven for 40 - 50 mins or until a toothpick inserted into centre of cake comes out clean.
Allow to cool.

I actually baked half of the mixture in a loaf tin and half in 6 standard sized paper cups.


Tihani is asleep now and she hasnt tried them. Will put some in her lunch box so she can eat them during recess. Will also bring some for colleagues and see what they have to say about my cake :-)

unkl347

A friend had invited me to his brother store's opening today. As part of the Singapore Design Festival, they also did a short worshop and exhibition as well.

unkl347, located at golden landmark, unit 01/22, is an apparel and bag store for the trendy, the young or even the young at heart. Their Ts are comfortable and designs are for me unique. The man and I own some of their apparels already and my angels own their hoodies too.

I went early right after work and they were still preparing. Due to some prior engagements I had to leave early. Here are some pix I managed to snap when I went.

Before I left, I gave them cupcakes which I had baked the nite before. I hope the guys enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed baking and icing them.

PS - unkl347, congrats on the store's opening and I hope business blooms too.

PPS - readers, do check out the unkl347 store and give them your support. gracias!

Cupcakes Order - 5

It is Teacher's Day on 1st September and the school term ends tomorrow. What better prezzie to present the teachers than with a cuppies or two!

I received an order for individually packed cuppies. Chocolate base, white cream, hundreds and thousands and sugar flowers were all that was requested for!

This is a picture of the individual packed cuppies.

I like the fact that it looked simple yet sweet!

Updated on 31/8/2007 - Feedback via sms - Yr cupcake is v v nice .. tks sis!

Isabelle's 3rd Birthday

It was Isabelle's 3rd birthday last Friday but the celebration was only held earlier today, 5pm at the multi purpose hall over at their residence.

Her dad had text me a couple of days ago to order some cupcakes. But I thought, the cupcakes would be an ideal birthday prezzie from Tita Murnie to Isabelle.

So I made her some chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. Iced it with pastel pink and blue cream. Topped it off with coloured sprinkles and also insect wrapped chocolates.

When I reached the party venue, I placed the cupcakes on a disposable 3 tier cake stand. And there the cuppies were .. they stood pretty amidst the array of food that the host had to offer.

Some of the mummies there asked if I take orders and if I had a namecard. Well, yes I do take orders but no I aint got no namecard! Is it time for me to make a namecard?!

Anyways, here are some pictures I took at the birthday party ..

Auni looking bored coz the it rained hence she couldnt swim .. poor baby ..

A girl enjoying the cake till the last bit .. oh yah her pretty face was smeared with the cream too .. hehehe

One for remembrance girls .. before ripping the prezzies open .. Peace .. oh yah, the little bags the girls were carrying on their backs were the goodie bags they received from the birthday girl!

Helium balloons up on the ceiling ..

That's the birthday girl's mummy, Mylene, taking a bite at the cupcake .. gotcha!

Ok enough pictures already ..

So Isabelle, before Tita ends this post, Tita would like to once again wish you a Happy 3rd Birthday

and may your days ahead be as colourful as the icing on the cakes and the balloons above.

Cupcakes Order - 4

Lynd, my lil sister's friend, had a few weeks back ordered cupcakes for her cousin's birthday and engagement party which will be held later tomorrow.

She had specifically requested for white cream, heart shaped quins, rainbow non-pareils and also colored pearls. And so this is what I came up with ..

The cuppies all packed in a box and ready to be delivered ..

And this is it .. view from the top ..

PS. Lynd .. I heard the cuppies toppled! I hope the topple didnt cause alot of damage to the cuppies though! Am wondering if you liked them cuppies?! Feedback yah.

Cupcakes Order - 3

Lyssa happened to chance upon my friendster profile and then checked out my blog!

Learning that I took orders for cupcakes, she text me sometime last week, to order cupcakes specially for her boyfriend's 24th birthday. Awww .. sweet isnt she?

The order was for today, and these were what I came up with. I hope she's fine with the cupcakes. I did a blue and red theme cuppies for her boyfriend.

Oh boy, I guess I have to work harder and learn and experiment more on how to decorate cakes for the male species!

I am so inclined to sweet looking, girly girly cupcakes .. duh!

Updated on 24/8/2007 - Feedback via Friendster - I in luv wit yr sweet treats!!! they were satisfying from the lips to da hips! thanx so much!!

Cakes from The Royals

As I was driving on ECP on the way home from work today, I felt a sudden urge to have cakes from The Royals Cakes and Pies. Nah .. I wasnt craving for their pies but rather their cakes .. ermm .. their Dark Chocolate Truffle to be precise!!

So instead of taking the Bedok exit, I took the Siglap exit, to of course,get my cake at The Royals branch along East Coast Road.

So I looked at their cake display and went confused. I was spoilt for choice .. there were trays and trays of yummylicious looking cakes, eg. Mango Delight, Strawberry Cake, Carrot Cake and many many more. Just when I told the sales lady that I wanted a bar of Dark Choc Truffle, I changed my mind. What fickle mind I have?! .. hehe

In the end, I settled for their sliced cakes instead .. Dark Choc Truffle, Choc Banana and Black Forest .. one piece each! Did you realise that the cakes I bought all had chocolate in them .. see I am one chocolate freak!

After Maghrib, I drove to mum's place to catch the fireworks display. Just as the fireworks display started, I plonked myself on the shoe cabinet on mum's corridor. The pleasure of eating those cakes, albeit, its high fat contents and watching fireworks at the same time .. perfecto!

Oh yah, did I mention that I ate 93% of the cakes all by myself. Dont ask me how I derived at 93% .. hehe .. Oh, how I love to indulge!

Cupcakes Order - 1 & 2

It was Singapore's birthday last Thursday. While getting ready to go to mum's place to watch fireworks, I received a text msg from an unfamiliar number.

The correspondences went somthing like this:
She: Murnie, do you take orders for cuppies? By the way, do you know me?
Me: Erm .. who is that?
She: It is me Rohani from Woodsville. So do you take orders?
Me: How did you know about the cuppies?
She: I read your blog .. you gave me your blog addy the last time remember?!

Hmm .. and so I tried to reflect when was the last I got in touch with her .. it must have been some time early last year and wow, my schoolmate still reads my blog! Thanks Rohani!

That evening, after much a thinking, I replied to her msg and said YES to her order! I told the lovelies in my life about the order and after much encouragement from them, I agreed to it! They knew that this was what I had wanted to do badly .. they knew my love for baking big time!

Rohani, my secondary schoolmate, will be collecting the cupcakes later today and I hope she will be happy with the end result. Rohani left the number of cuppies and creativity to me. So, I made her 16 pcs of chocolate cupcakes with plain white icing and toppers, then put it in a transparent box trimmed with silver ribbons. OH ya, the pink shredded stuff that are placed in between the cupcakes are edible too!

Rohani had placed orders for the cupcakes especially for her friend's engagement .. aww .. sweet isn't she??

I really hope the recipient too will be elated to receive the cupcakes later!

The other time, I also showed pictures of cupcakes that I made for Tihani's birthday to the security officer at work, and then he went "If you are gonna make them cuppies, could you make some for me."

I said "Oh sure, I'll make some for you and you go surprise your fiancee with it". He liked the idea.

These are what I made for the security officer specially for his fiancee. Chocolate cake with lavendar coloured icing and toppers! I hope the fiancee is smitten by his sweetness and his little surprise!

Thank you Rohani and Azhar and Thanks Allah for giving me this opportunity! Is this a start to a mini business that I have always dreamt of?? I really hope it is!

Plain Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping

I made mini cheesecake yet again. This time around, I made Plain Mini Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping.

Ingredients

Base Crust

75 gm digestive biscuites, crushed
45 gm butter, melted

Cheesecake Mixture

250 gm cream cheese, softened to room temperature
40 gm sugar (original recipe called for 30 gms sugar)
1 egg (Grade A)
1 tsp vanilla essence

Topping

blueberry pie filling

Method

Preheat oven to 175C.

Line 9 of a 12 holes muffin tins with paper cases.
Mix butter and crushed digestives and divide among the prepared wells. Press evenly into the bottom of the wells. Bake for about 5 mins (recipe called for the crust to be refrigerated till ready to use). Put aside to cool.

Lower oven temperature to 150C.

In a bowl, whisk cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
Then add egg and vanilla essence and mix well.

Spoon filling into the crusts, dividing evenly and then bake for about 15 mins.
Transfer to wire rack to cool and refrigerate.

Just before serving the plain mini cheesecake, spoon some blueberry pie filling on top.

Paiz and Hafiz, cousins o mine, got to try them and they loved it ..

Awesome .. ;-)

Milk Choc Rice Krispies Mini Cheesecake

My oh my .. what a long title .. Milk Choc Rice Krispies Mini Cheesecake .. hehehe

I have always wanted to make cheesecake. So when a fellow Resipinet member shared this easy peasy cheesecake recipe, which made use of Milk Choc Rice Krispies, I had to try them.

Ingredients

Base Crust

75 gm digestive biscuites, crushed
45 gm butter, melted

Cheesecake Mixture

250 gm cream cheese, softened to room temperature
40 gm sugar (original recipe called for 30 gms sugar)
1 egg (Grade A)
1 tsp vanilla essence
35 gm milk choc rice krispies + more for topping

Method

Preheat oven to 175C.

Line 9 of a 12 holes muffin tins with paper cases.
Mix butter and crushed digestives and divide among the prepared wells. Press evenly into the bottom of the wells. Bake for about 5 mins (recipe called for the crust to be refrigerated till ready to use). Put aside to cool.

Lower oven temperature to 150C.

In a bowl, whisk cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
Then add egg and vanilla essence and mix well.
Using a spoon, fold in the milk choc rice krispies.

Spoon filling into the crusts, dividing evenly and then bake for about 15 mins.
Transfer to wire rack to cool and refrigerate.

Just before serving, break more choc and top the baked cheesecake.

Hmm .. you know what .. mine didnt need any topping at all and yah I microwaved mine a little. I just love mine served warm .. the goeyness of the melted choc and the crispiness of the rice krispies .. it was just heaven!!

Tihani's Birthday Cupcakes

It is Tihani's birthday this Saturday. No plan for a big birthday bash for her this year so I decided that we do a mini one at her kindy.

It was gonna be a SURPRISE for her .. she hasnt the slightest idea about the mini celebration.

I called her teacher for permission and asked how many children are there in Tihani's class and how many teachers there would be.

Sis helped me with the goody bags and I made CUPCAKES for Tihani earlier.

Phew .. after many hours in the kitchen, baking the chocolate and strawberry cakes in souffle cups,



making the icing, icing the cakes and topping it off with sugar decor stuff, here were the outcome ..

cupcakes ..

and more ...

There you go .. the cupcakes which I made for Tihani to bring to her school later on.

I really hope Tihani will be surprise to see me there and to see the cuppies I made her! Wish me luck!

It was definitely an improvement I made from the cupcakes that I baked her last year .. ;-)

Creative Cuppies

I do not normally go out on my own on Sundays. Sundays has always been a day for me to spend time with my family but today was exceptional.

This afternoon, I attended a creative cupcakes class. It was a whole lot of fun. Learnt to make some cuppies and cream.

The best part of the class was when I got to try hands on icing and decorating the cuppies.

I really enjoyed myself thoroughly .. got my hands and my top all messed up with the cream and all.

Check out the cuppies that I decorated .. still an amateur at this .. but I guess I have got to start somewhere rite??

Dont laugh aite .. just gimme the encouragement .. please please please ..

So here they are ladies and gentlemen .. presenting m3rni3's amateurish iced and decorated cuppies ..

hearts cuppy

webbey flower cuppy

ladybug cuppy

drift cuppy

rosey cuppy

Here is one more .. I got another participant to ice the leaves for me coz I was really not confident with icing leaves.

Never mind the names I gave them cuppies, I was just being creative .. ermm .. more like being wacky .. hehehe

I iced and decorated a whole lot more cuppies but only managed to snap pix of the above!

Hmm .. my hands are itching to make cuppies .. I really wonder when .. soon I hope!