How to crumb coat a cake

What is crumb coat?  According to Baking Bites

A  crumb coat is a term that comes up fairly often for those of us who like to bake cakes, but it is not often well defined in recipes. Sometimes, it isn’t mentioned at all, although anyone who has ever tried to frost a cake and ended up with lots of crumbs stuck in the frosting would certainly find that knowing how to apply a crumb coat is handy skill to have.

A crumb coat is name of a very thin layer of frosting that is applied to a cake before the final frosting is put on. This coating essentially traps all the loose crumbs on the surface of a cake in a thin, sticky layer of frosting. With the crumbs secured, your final layer of frosting will glide on smoothly and cleanly, without picking up a single crumb from the cake itself. The crumb coat is made from the same frosting that will go on the rest of the cake, so there is no need for a special batch of frosting or an additional recipe. There is no special technique in applying it: just use an offset spatula or knife to apply the frosting and smoothing it down until you can see the cake underneath. I like to allow the crumb coat to set up for a few minutes (although it doesn’t make that much of a difference in the end), then apply the rest of the frosting, pulling it lightly across the base layer. The coat will work with any spread-on frosting (pour on glazes and ganaches don’t generally need a crumb coat) and dedicating a small amount of your frosting to it will usually make a big difference in the presentation of the finished product.

 Well, just see it yourself.  Refer to this video:

Preparing cake pans

How to prepare your cake pan for baking?  I used Crisco no-stick spray with flour. 

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Here are other options of preparing your pan for baking, refer to attached video:

Chocolate Ganache Frosting

How to make a Chocolate Ganache Frosting?  You only need two ingredients, a mixture of cream and chocolate.

• 2 cups chocolate chips 
• 2 cups heavy cream 

Put chocolate in a mixing bowl, set aside.  Put cream in a saucepan and bring to boil.  Add the boiled cream immediately to chocolate and let sit for a minute and stir until smooth.  Refrigerate while preparing for the cake. 

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By the way, I'll be making a chocolate cake. :-)

We Farm

We Farm is now available worldwide! Use this link to download it from your country’s App Store.

We’re excited to give everyone everywhere the right to call themselves a We Farmer. Available now in App Stores around the globe, We Farm lets you cultivate, customize and control your very own virtual farm on your iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Get started by planting your new fields full of lettuce or sunflowers, then get down to business by decorating your land with over a hundred unique buildings and items like Grain Silos or that Treehouse you always wanted as a kid.

Once things are looking good, start your pursuit at raising a ribbon-winning cow, sheep or ostrich to send off to the fair to rake in the Gold (rake not required). Source

I'm now playing this new game.  Add me "Mom-Heids" ;)

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Maja Blanca

A Filipino dessert also known as Coconut Pudding.  It is usually top with latik or toasted grated coconut.  For a change, I top it with grated cheese :)   

2 cups or 400 ml coconut milk 1/3 cup sugar 2/3 cup condensed milk 380g whole sweet kernel corn, drained 1/3 cup milk 1/2 cup cornstarch grated cheese for topping

In a saucepan, pour the coconut milk in medium heat and bring to boil.  Add sugar, condensed milk, sweet kernel corn and stir.  Simmer for few minutes.  In a separate bowl, combine the milk and cornstarch and mix until diluted. Then pour the milk and cornstarch mixture in the saucepan stirring constantly until thickened.  Pour mixture into a molded tray and add the grated cheese.  Allow to cool and refrigerate for at least an hour.

This dessert is so easy.  Please note, if you have a blender or food processor, you may ground the corn kernel and  lessen it as desired.  The condensed milk made it more creamier and the cheese even better.  This serving is good for 4 to 6 person.  Feel free to double or triple the ingredients :P

Singapore National Day Spa Promotion

Lifespa 45th National Day Promotion

Enjoy 1-for-1 Spa Treats at $45 with a friend at Lifespa!

Choose one from:

• Skin Rejuvenation Facial Treatment (U.P. $180, 60 mins)
  Cell Renewal  I Dermal HydrationI      Clearer Skin
  
  
• Swedish or Aroma Body Massage (U.P. $150, 60 mins)
  RelaxingI      Balancing of Mind & BodyI      Improved Circulation
  
  
• RF Bottom Slim Treatment (U.P. $230, 45 mins)
  DetoxificationI      Inch LossI      Effective

Visit the spa on a weekday before 5 pm and enjoy another treat at only $4.50!

• Brightening Eye Treatment with facial (U.P. $80, 20 mins)
  
• Herbal Back Compress with body massage (U.P. $68, 15 mins)

Terms and Conditions:

• Valid till 31 October 2010
• Please call for appointment and quote "NDP-Passion Promotion"
• Valid for first-time customers who are Singaporeans, PRs or Singapore Employment
  Pass-holders aged 21 years and above
• PAssion Card and NRIC or FIN must be presented to qualify
• A $4.50 surcharge per customer is applicable for weekends and public holiday appointments
• Offer is subjected to GST where applicable
• A surcharge is applicable for couple room, subject to availability
• Please arrive 15 minutes before scheduled appointment to avoid reduced treatment time

Lifespa Outlets:

Level 5 Pacific Plaza (near Orchard MRT) Tel: 6737 6766
Level 5 Carlton Hotel (near City Hall MRT) Tel: 6339 6966

Email: booking@lifespa.com.sg

Wen Luxe Spa

NATIONAL DAY 1-FOR-1 SPA TREATS @$45

Voted Best Spa Newcomer, Wen Luxe Spa is an urban sanctuary, a refuge from the hurried storm of modern life. Within its calm, pristine, soothing surroundings, Wen Luxe Spa offers bespoke spa treatments for both men and women.

Bring a friend  & choose one spa treatment:

• Collagen Radiant Face Spa (60min, worth $180)
• Wen Fusion Massage (60min, worth $150)
• Green Tea Indulgence (60min, worth $180) green tea body polish and de-stress back massage
• Classic Princess Manicure or Pedicure (45min, worth $60) with FREE Glitter french tip

Terms and Conditions:

• Valid till 31 Oct 2010
  
• For first time customers and one trial per customer
  
• Both customers must choose the same treatment
  
• $10/person surcharge for weekend appt (Fri to Sun)
  

Wen Luxe Spa Outlet:

6 Bukit Pasoh Road (next to Outram Park exit H)
Tel: 6227 2722

Find out more @ www.wenspa.com

Brazo de Mercedes

At last! I was able to make meringue, weee! :)   

Few weeks ago, I came across on the cooking video of how to make Brazo de Mercedes by Panlasang Pinoy.  Since then I was craving for it and really want to try.  Click here for the ingredients, procedure and video. I don’t want to make a big one yet so I lessen the ingredients in half.  Then I followed all his instruction  

And here's the result . . .


My problem in small size meringue, it can't make a nice roll (nothing to roll actually), or I should have rolled it on the other side? haiz :p  It almost cracked.  But the taste was really good, not so sweet.  I better bake it in a big tray :p  Till next time!

Golden Village Yishun Renovation Party

For more details, click here

Ginataan na Manok

1 k chicken, cut to serving pieces cooking oil 1/2 head garlic, minced 1 inch ginger, sliced 1 large onion, sliced fish sauce 1 cup water 2 tablespoons vinegar 2 cups (400ml) coconut milk vegetable of your choice 1 cup (200ml)  coconut cream *1 cup sili leaves finger chilis or hot hot chili, as desired salt and pepper to taste * I wasn’t able to include sili leaves, no available in our area

Saute garlic, ginger and onion in cooking oil.  Add a tablespoon of fish sauce then immediately add chicken pieces and sear for few minutes or until the chicken oil comes out.  Add water, bring to boil and simmer for ten minutes.  Add vinegar and coconut milk.  Simmer until almost cooked.  I added sliced eggplant.  Add coconut cream, *sili leaves, and finger chilis.  Stir to keep from curdling.  Simmer until sauce is slightly thick.  Season to taste. * The rest of my family don’t like spicy so I didn’t add hot chilis.  Though it is more better when spicy :p

Next time,  I will try Filipino version of Chicken curry :)

Blogger Template Designer

Have you tried the Blogger Template Designer?  It’s been few weeks since I’ve used the new feature.  At first I was apprehensive cos I know my blog design like the fonts for my title post and sidebar, the FavIcon, and other designs will not show up anymore.  I know I’ll be missing the scrapbook background and header too.



I played it at first.  Anyway, I saved my old template just in case I want to go back and everything’s been back up.  All their designs are good, many template and background to choose from, the selection was a bit hard.  But in the end it was good.  Change is good, I like it.  It’s fun playing with the new features…

My present template is 'simple' with white background.

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Once you’ve chosen a new template, proceed to background.  From there you can change the color or the picture for your header.

In 'layout' - you can modify the 'body layout', 'footer layout', and can adjust the entire width of your blog and sidebar. 

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Last step, the 'advance'.  Another better feature cos you can change the font and color of your page from page text, header to post footer.



Then I tried playing with the html.  I tried inserting my previous CSS to change the post title font, it worked! Yay!! Next, I added the CSS for FavIcon, it worked too, wee! And the rest, unsuccessful.  Anyway, the post title font and my favicon are the most important!! Note that new share button and blogger video are enabled on the new blogger template.

Try it yourself! :)

Polymer Clay

Spending my free time watching polymer clay tutorials on YouTube this past few days.  I find it very interesting and would love to try it, hopefully, with my family (daydreaming). 

 photo by shiborigirl

 These are the things that I would like to make if given a chance:

photo by yifattiii

photo by Rachael Poston

photo by etsy

photo by doughnut bites

photo by oh my so cute

photo by zecca

Hay, there are too many inspirational charm designs that I would love to post here.  Those are a few that I like hi hi. 

Wishin' and hopin'

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