"Rainbow Cake"

I've been putting off to make this cake for a while already!! Reason being its just too tedious even though the cake is actually a simple recipe cake. Finally, I couldn't say no. I've run out of excuses to give!! Hehehe... Sounds really bad, right? In the end, it was my hubby, who managed to persuade me to make the cake for his colleagues, who wanted to order two rainbow cakes from me for their office function.

I actually had so much fun seeing how the cake is turned from something so simple into six different layers of different coloured cake with rich buttercream filling in between the layers. The colours I mixed for the layers were really bright as I wanted the colour to contrast each other when the cake is cut. My rainbow cake came out to about 6.5" in height. It was quite a tall cake!!

Standing at about 6.5" tall... tadaaa... my rainbow cake!! Decorated with lemon flavoured chocolate shavings and rainbow coloured rice

The cake is vanilla flavoured and the buttercream is lemon flavoured. According to my hubby, the cake was a success and the first cake was finished within minutes after they first cut into it.

The cross-section of one of the cakes I made... See the layers inside... So vibrant. Love the colours!!!

Even though the layers were not that even, am glad that the cake was a success after all!!

I've yet to bake a rainbow cake for my kids. They have been pestering me to make one for them as they didn't get to taste any of these two cakes. So, hopefully, after we've moved to our new home and settled down, I can bake for them the rainbow cake.

"Auntie Teh's Ducks"

In my last post, I mentioned that I made 3 cakes last week. The third cake I made last week was for my aunt, Datuk Zainun Aishah or fondly known to us as Auntie Teh. Her daughter-in-law, Rosie wanted to surprise her mom-in-law with a beautiful birthday cake. Auntie Teh was organising a Hari Raya lunch for the whole family at her abode and Rosie wanted to surprise her. And boy, was she so surprised and touched by the gesture!

My Auntie Teh has always been fond of porcelain ducks. She actually has been collecting these ducks for years!! In fact, when her son, my cousin, Shazli got married to Rosie, she had porcelain ducks custom made as the containers for the "bunga telur" or eggs to be given to the guests.

I guess what is more appropriate then making her a cake with ducks on it. Rosie's idea was brilliant!!! I was given a photo on how the ducks should look like. The specific type of ducks that my aunt was so fond of was the one with the dark green head and brownish/grayish body. Not so easy to make I guess but a very interesting cake nevertheless! I so love challenges. I browsed through all the ducks from the web and chose one that was a beauty and fits Rosie's description perfectly.

I started baking the lemon cake first and decided I should start on the ducks as it may take a long time to finish. I was actually so wrong!! The process of making the ducks, surprisingly took less time than I predicted and I thoroughly enjoyed the process of colour dusting the ducks in the varying shades of brown, black, white and gray. I had the beak and eyes hand painted as per the photo. The concept of my cake is basically to have ducks in a pond. I had the side of the cake covered in tall grass and  also added a few bullrushes plant at the back of the cake. I made the pond water a bit greenish and I made it out of piping jelly so that it will look a bit like water.

The whole view of the cake. I call this cake, "Ducks in a Pond"

Side view of the two ducks and closer look at the bullrushes and lotus plants

The two ducks up close. The clarity of the photo is not so good!

According to my mom, as of yesterday, my aunt still has not cut the cake yet. She feels that the cake is too beautiful too be cut. I sure hope the cake inside is still edible when she finally cuts the cake!!! Anyway, Happy Belated Birthday, Auntie Teh... May your life be blessed always and may you have great many years filled with good health, happiness and prosperity...

"20th Anniversary Cake"

The 1st week of September was a very, very hectic week for me. I felt like everything was happening at the same time. First, my other half had to leave for Mozambique for 6 whole days. That means, I had to be a single parent for 6 whole days. I know I sound whiny but its really tiring to juggle office work, kids matter, making cakes and running my day-to-day household matters!! Then, to make it worse, I had 3 cake orders that week. I usually only take 1 order per week as am working full time and its not easy to find the time to make intricate cakes but this week was all about family and friends.

The first order for the week came from my hubby's work mates. They wanted to order a cake for their office meeting and also to celebrate a few birthdays. Since Bahrin was in Africa, they contacted me personally and asked if I could bake them a rainbow cake. Truthfully, I told them that my hands are full that week and if they wanted a simple cake, I can bake for them but a rainbow cake is too tedious for me! So, they decided on an orange poppy cake instead (I was so busy I had no time to take photos of the cake!!!).

This is the only photo that I have of the cake. Courtesy of course, from my hubby, Bahrin, who made it back in time to bring the cake for the meeting. I was glad to hear that they all love the cake!!!

On to my second order that week!!! It was my friend, Yan's 20th wedding anniversary. She was hosting a Hari Raya open house and also a house warming on 08th September and wanted to also celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary with her friends. So, she told me she wanted me to make her a 2-tiered cake that looks like a wedding cake but not a wedding cake! Huh?! So, I asked her for specifics like the colour of the flowers, the base of the cake and what she wanted on the cake. 

Yan's favourite colour is orange and she wanted an orange and off-white theme for the cake. As for the cake flavour, she wanted chocolate with chocolate ganache.

The anniversary cake. I managed to make a cake that is 2-tiered but does not really resemble a wedding cake. Yan and her hubby loved it.

The cake up-close. All these sugar flowers were handmade and colour dusted by me. I refuse to buy ready-made flowers and take the easy way out. 

   

Happy 20th Anniversary, Yan & Jeff... May you two have many, many more wonderful and happy years together... Look out for my next post... It will be the third cake I made for this particular week!!!

"Hen Night"

Please don't be deceived by the title!! This is not about my hen night! I do wish it was mine though... Hehehe... I was commissioned to make cupcakes by Nisa Karl for her bestie, Tia, a bride-to-be. Tia's close friends organised for her a bachelorette party or "hen night" to celebrate the ending of her single status! The theme of the night was "Sex & The City" and I had to make the cupcakes based on this theme. The colour chosen by Nisa was pink, black  and white. 

Truthfully, I was a bit reluctant to take this order as it was due on the 06th day of Eid, which was on 24th of August and I was still in my post Raya holiday mood. Plus my maid was on break too. So, I was a bit worried that I am not able to complete the cupcakes on time and juggling my family affairs at the same time. After much thought, I decided why not. I haven't done any naughty cakes before and wanted to try something new. When Nisa sent me the sample photos of the theme for the cupcakes, I was quite excited and couldn't wait to start. I designed the cupcakes so that Nisa will get 2 Chanel bags, 2 heels, 2 bustiers, 2 G-strings and 4 New York city skyline in pink & black on the cupcakes. Nisa also wanted me to include these wordings "Tia's Hen Night". She requested for 16 cupcakes but I ended giving her 18 (the 2 extra on me) as my design could not fit 16 cupcakes.

I had so much fun making this order and my daughter, Hannah was my constant companion while I was doing the sugar modelling. I felt bad for her since it was the Raya holidays and I couldn't take her out because I had to finish the cupcakes. She opt to stay at home with me instead of following my hubby and her brother to Genting. She told me thats what BFFs do. They stick to each other!! How sweet is that????

Well anyways, this is how my cupcakes turned out...

I love the combination of the 3 colours - pink, white and black... The miniature Chanel bag is so cute and the heels are also so tiny... Hannah loves the butt!!! She says its very sexy... Hehehe...

As for Nisa, here's what she wrote to me, " Elinna, the cupcakes were super gorgeous and so detailed! Turned out so much more than I would've imagined. Will definitely post it up on fb and to the page. Thanks again amazing & nyummy!" Awww... Was so happy to receive this message by Nisa... Am so glad that everything turned out well in the end....