45th Family Day (Dec 18)

It took me while before I could find time to upload this album. As always, I've been so busy making cakes after work while trying to complete my Christmas shopping in between. I just realized I had been working ten straight days over the holidays. Yes, believe it or not, I had to work an 8-hour shift on Christmas day. Thank God I'm still breathing.

Few good reasons why I love this album.

...I was half the time behind the camera than in front of it, which is quite unusual for me. Well, for a change, I wanted to try if I have an eye for photography. Exciting experience it was, I should say. You'll be the judge if I should pursue it or not.

...I have witnessed how a new friendship blossomed between Inay Juling and Ina Letty. There was like an unknown force of nature that pulled them together to be as close as they are. It all started in a casual conversation and the rest is just magic. Now they've found a "kumare" in each other.

...Although this happened a week before Christmas and though it's bit late now, I could still recall how joyful we were that day. We shared a unique set of food for dinner, with pritong tuyo and talong, and pinakbet. Don't we all miss these simple dishes back home?

...Lightroom has been helping me enhance my photos since a friend told me about it. Up to now I'm still learning how to use some of its features. I just know a few tricks that I always apply and somehow it never fails me.

...Most of all, the whole idea of having this Family Day has evolved into not just an ordinary get-together but to a more meaningful sense of closeness between families. It has opened doors to greater understanding, sharing and compassion.

For that, Sundays won't be the same without Family Day. 

Click link for photos:  http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad136/sherylsantos31/2011%20Family%20Days/45th%20Family%20Day%202011/

Project: Round gift box themed cake with bows in vibrant colors

I made this cake as a Christmas present for our friends, our "kumpare and kumare", Brian and Anne Liwanag.  For the longest time, Brian has been asking my husband how much do I normally charge for my cakes.  I presumed he wanted to order to try it out but never really did have the chance to do so.  

They say Christmas is the time for giving.  I say, there's no better time to grant someone's wish than now.  A simple act of giving gives a deeper meaning of what Christmas is all about.  

Anekh brought the cake over to their place on Saturday morning, the 24th.  I wasn't able to come with him because I was working.  To know how completely surprised and happy the couple was when they accepted the gift gave me a pleasant smile that could last a whole day.

Project: Round gift box themed cake

For my Indian friend and co-worker at the Dome.  He wanted to try how good my cakes really are.  I mean no joke by that.  That's what he said to me when I asked what sort of theme/design he'd like to have.  A simple cake was all he asked for, may not necessarily be well decorated and preferably small.

This was actually made before Christmas, on the same date as the square themed, but had been unable to write a post on time.  While everyone else is still enjoying their long break from work, I have been working since Wednesday.  I didn't even get to enjoy Christmas Day.  That's how terribly sad working in hospitality could get.  Anyway, why am I even talking about that here? 

On the Friday morning, my friend together with his wife, came to pick up the cake.  It was also their first time to check out our new place.

Project: Square gift box themed cake

The cake looks typical on the outside but what's inside it is something I never thought could be possible.  Any idea why that Ferrero sits on top of the cake?  

The answer is... Because cake was made with tiny bits of Ferrero Rocher chocolate as requested especially by the client.  She wanted a chocolate cake incorporated with crushed Ferrero balls.  When she first told me about it, I was like "How am I meant to do that?"  Then eventually figured out myself how it should be done. 

I thought it would be as simple as I thought it would be to make the cake, but I was wrong.  Well, it wasn't really a failure in a major way.  It just didn't rise properly.  The other cakes I normally bake come out light and airy, but this one looked a bit compact and fudgy.  I supposed there was nothing wrong with the procedure.  It could have been caused by the addition of Ferreros into the mixture, I concluded.  Instead of being stressing out over the poor outcome, I thought of baking another set of cake, original recipe.  Anyway, the cakes will be covered with fondant so I could just assemble them alternately, one on top of another.  And the idea worked just how I wanted it.

Trish is the  Canadian girl from work who asked me to make this cake.  A few days ago, she quit the job because she's moving to Melbourne.  Before leaving for good, she wanted to give this cake to the person who gave her a home while in Albany.  To whom the words "Thank You" were for.  

It's such an overwhelming feeling how a simple cake that I made can touch another person's life.  Trish was very grateful because I've done her a very big favor for doing the cake.  Consequently, she'll make someone else happy too.  This is one of the best things in life that no amount of money can buy, sheer happiness.  

44th Family Day (Dec 11)

Another Sunday that had something to celebrate about -- Inay Juling just got back from the Philippines and she'll be here to stay for one whole year. Isn't that good news?

The joy of being able to participate once again on this every Sunday gathering with us was very evident in her smile.  We could see how happy she was to be reunited with her family, especially with Charmelle.  Although she had only been away for only two months, it still seemed so long.  She said she missed us all.  And we missed her more.  

Upon learning that we've moved in next door to theirs, she was even more elated.

Click link for photos:  http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad136/sherylsantos31/2011%20Family%20Days/44th%20Family%20Day/

Albany Filipino Community Christmas Party (Dec 10)

Annual gathering of Filipino-Aussie families to celebrate the forthcoming yuletide season.

I honestly never planned to go, although I knew this was being planned as early as November.  Our Kumare Jeraldine is one of the officers and she relays whatever events or projects the organization is working on.  I even got an invitation to render a song number for the said party but I refused. I don't have what it takes to perform in public.

On the night of the party, my other Kumare, Mhine asked me to come with her because her husband didn't want to go. Hubby allowed me so we went on our own. Been in Albany for four Christmases but this was the first time ever that I actually attended their party.

It was fun being around with fellow Filipinos and friends; see familiar faces that I often just threw a timid smile or nod at. The whole experience was new to me. I enjoyed seeing different people coming together like one big family. 

Being a part of it for the first time has given me a memorable experience I could look forward to every year.

Click link for photos:   http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad136/sherylsantos31/Albany%20Fil%20Community%20Christmas%20Party/

Project: Princess castle cake

princess castle cake

The client who ordered this is a Filipina who liked the cake that I made for Charmelle's birthday; the husband also liked the chocolate filling. 

I've never done a castle cake before but somehow I have an idea how it looks like.  I see a lot of similar castle cake designs by Cheryl Shuen, a famous pastry chef in Singapore, that are so beautiful and simply amazing.  Makes me dream that one day I'd be able to create my own humble version.  

When this order came up, I was half excited yet half apprehensive to accept it.  Excited because it would help me fulfill my dream.  On the other hand, a little bit daunted because I wasn't 100% confident if I could give it my best shot.  But as soon as I said yes, all my fears have to be set aside.

I tried to look for instructional videos on youtube to give me a better idea of how it's done.  So far I was able to apply everything that I've learned to make this project even more creative.

Dinner with Joel and Mila (December 13)

We were invited by Mila to have dinner at their place on Wednesday evening for a simple celebration of their first wedding anniversary.  Aside from us, she also invited our ex-housemates Bunso and family.  

The rich aroma of grilled bangus and kaldereta filled the room as we entered the house. There was so much food laid before us on the dining table.  She said she started cooking as early as 1PM and finished everything up before Joel got home at 4PM.  Gosh, how could she managed to cook all those food in two hours?

Click link for photos:  http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad136/sherylsantos31/Dinner%20with%20Garcias/

43rd Family Day (Dec 4)

A special and memorable Sunday as it was our first time to host Family Day in our own place. Yay!

We were just so excited to finally get settled after a week of clearing out all the clutter.  It feels so much better having our own space.  Hubby and I worked together to organize our stuff.  Mostly, he took charge of the furnitures and I, on the other hand, had to organize some bric-a-bracs.  In two days, we were able to complete the whole task.

Moving in to a new setting, it won't be any more surprising if we do another set of photo shoot. We've done it even before we have officially moved in... I'm talking about the previous Sunday where we had photos taken at the garden, (while keys haven't been handed over to us).  Anyway, we have all the rights now.

Click link for photos:   http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad136/sherylsantos31/2011%20Family%20Days/43rd%20Family%20Day/

Dome Christmas Party (December 5)

I've been working at the Dome for almost three years now; on December 21st to be specific.  To be very honest, I still can't believe how I have managed to survive working in hospitality when I have no employment background in this line of work.  It was all a new experience to me.  To make things worst, the culture and accent barrier gave me a hard time to cope up.  But, through the help of people and friends that I've met and worked with, the burden seemed less heavy to bear.  Now, I can proudly say that I am not as scared as I was before during my first few months.  Thanks to my Dome family for helping me step out.

Dome has always had Christmas party every year but this is the very first time that I actually decided to attend.  After all the invitations and persuading that I got from my managers and co-workers, I finally said yes.  But still, hubby didn't want to come.  

Dinner was held at Joop Thai.  

Click link for photos: http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad136/sherylsantos31/Dome%20Christmas%20party%202011/

Busy Tuesday in the kitchen

This is probably one of the busiest days I've ever had in the kitchen.  I've been up since six in the morning to finish decorating two cake orders for pick up at two.  Simultaneously I was baking two sets of cake for another cake order due at four, while doing my loads of washings in between.  Never realized I could be a superwoman when the need arises.

Project One:  The client ordered two cakes with the same design for an organization called Freemason.  Didn't actually have the chance to get as much information about what the organization does but I learned from their site that they provide quality accommodation and care for Masonic members and their families as well as members of the broader community.

This photo cut-outs were given to me by the client to serve as my guide.  I had to honestly tell her that I might not be able do some details as precise as how they appear on the photos. 

Cake design

Logo details

Now here's my version.  Glad I was able to finish these on time and really thankful that everything went smooth and under control.  I'm saying this because sometimes it's so ironic that when you want so much to finish a particular task, something beyond your control happens.  Thank God today has been one of my luckiest days on earth. 

First of all, I haven't gotten myself a bigger square baking pan yet so I had to use my Pyrex rectangular dish.  I tried to make them square, but I would have needed extra cake to get the right shape.  As much as I wanted to fix it, time was my major concern.  Secondly, the sample photo required silver beads which I haven't used in any of my projects before so I decided to make it in gray instead.  Lastly, the blue coloring failed me once again.  It has always given me the same problem that I keep trying to correct myself.  But I guess at this point, I can say that there's nothing I can do about it.  Might have to look for quality colorings online.

Project Two: Tiffany Box cake

Tiffany box cake

I've always wanted to do this design.  It looks simple yet very classy and elegant.  So, when Rhianna asked me if I could make one for her birthday I got so thrilled.

Today, when I was in the process of decorating it a realization struck me - never underestimate a simple design.  Oftentimes, I spent long hours on projects that looked easy at first glance but once I start working on them, they give me a hard time.  This is project is one perfect example of that. 

What's with the square-shaped cake that I can't seem to cover it all up smooth and seamless?  Help!

Project: Booty Cake

One cake order after the other made my weekend busy once again.

Thursday night, after I've finished dressing up the polo shirt cake that was scheduled for pick up the next day, an instant message from Marlyn popped up on my Facebook page.  "Pwede b k hmbol pra s sunday?kc knina lang ngsabi yong friend k n magcelebrate sla".  Normally I require a minimum of three days to complete one project, of course depending on the intricacy of design.  She only wanted one-tier cake that would look a bit naughty and funny for two ladies having a double birthday celebration on Sunday.  

I said yes to her.  I wouldn't have if I knew I won't be able to meet the deadline.   

So right after we ended our conversation, though it was nearly 10PM, I had to hurriedly prepare my ingredients to bake at least the cake base. I've just finished sifting all the dry ingredients when I found out there was no more milk left in the fridge. Lucky I haven't started pouring the other liquid ingredients yet. Where on earth could I get milk at this time of the night? I gave up. Probably best to set it aside for the next day.

The following day, my cake was finally done. I just used one cake recipe for all three pans. That should be enough for the size she wanted.

It kinda looked like a boobies cake, at first glance. So I added more buttercream in between the bums yet was still unable to achieve the right figure.  When I placed the bikini fondant on, it changed the whole picture that I thought I would fail to get.  My first attempt wasn't that bad after all.  

Project: Polo shirt cake

polo shirt cake in blue and green

Second cake order from Charice, after the boobies cake a couple of months ago.  This time it was for a male friend's birthday.  She didn't ask for any specific design or theme instead she just let me use my creative ideas.

Among the many suggestions I've seen from the web, this was the only one that looked easy to make.  I've done a tuxedo cake before which gave me quite a hard time.  As compared to that, this one only took me about two hours to finish everything up, including the letter cut-outs.  Another reason why I chose this was the fact that generally men love to wear polo shirt.  I didn't want to make a wild guess on what he loves to do, so this was just a safe idea.

Glad that Charice did like it.  She even gave us a bag of "lechon" when her son handed over the payment.  

42nd Family Day and Winnie's Birthday (Nov 27)

Another two-in-one celebration.  First, it fell on a Sunday, therefore it was our 42nd Family Day for the current year. Second, dinner celebration of Winnie's birthday.

It felt somewhat weird to be a guest in the house we used to live in for 18 months.  A couple of days ago since we finally moved all our stuff out to transfer to a new place.  That house holds both sad and happy moments.  It's hard to leave with a heavy heart, knowing that the other party would have wanted to us to stay.  This has to be one of the major decisions we ever made.  One way, or the other, I know this was a good move for all of us.  But, of course, Winnie and Bunso were very pleased to have us join them along with their other friends on this special celebration.

Dinner was so filling. Everyone had a taste of every single food on the table. To name a few, they've got adobo, palabok, cassava cake, pansit, lasagna, ice cream cake and more.

Reaching home, I managed to have a few snap shots of me and our cozy home.  

Click link for photos:  http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad136/sherylsantos31/2011%20Family%20Days/42nd%20Family%20Day%20and%20Winnie%20Birthday/

40th Family Day (Nov 13)

As compared to last week's, this album obviously contains more photos in it.  Jimboy and Michelle were present here. Whenever they are around, the atmosphere feels somehow livelier and whackier. But, Charmelle stays on top as the little entertainer who never fails to amuse us in her own small ways. She is simply adorable. I can't believe how quickly she continues to grow by the week. It's like every Sunday that we get to see her, she learns something new. She can dance, sing and knows how to pose for the camera.

I reckon this every Sunday affair also highlights Charmelle's development, from being a baby who was just learning how to walk back then, to now a smart and bubbly little girl. Your ninong and ninang are so proud of you.

Click link for photos:  http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad136/sherylsantos31/2011%20Family%20Days/40th%20Family%20Day/

Project: Hello Kitty cake

Hello kitty cake

Was asked to make this cake for a young girl's birthday.  Her name is Carla, daughter of our friends Allan and Vivian.  The dinner celebration was held last Saturday at their place, which we had to miss out on unintentionally because we had so much stuff to organize after moving in.

Through this blog post, I'd like to apologize to Carla for the not-so-nice cake.  I hope she gets to read this someday.

I know I could have done it better but I had two other cake projects due on the same day.  It was a bit short notice too, so I didn't have enough time to prepare and think through the design.  Plus the fact that we've been really busy packing and moving our things. 

Project: Chocolate hedgehog cake

This was made for my boss's eldest son.  The little boy wanted a chocolate hedgehog cake as his birthday cake.

I had no idea how to make one so I did a research.  Found this site that had a detailed step-by-step instruction.  

http://www.parsleysoup.co.uk/hedgehogcakeinstructions.php

Was unable to replicate it fully though.  I was on the verge of giving up when I couldn't get it right.  But I still tried and tried until I was satisfied at the end product.  

Project: Farm-themed cake

Farm-themed cake with tractor

Up to this time, reality hasn't set in yet...  Who would have thought that something as big as this project would be offered to me by none other than, the boss himself, the owner of Dome cafe.  Never in my wildest dreams.  But who was I to say no to this opportunity when it could only come once in a lifetime...

When he first told me about it, I fell speechless for a moment.  More than the fact that my skills are limited and basic, I still haven't got my self-confidence.  But every time a new project is given to me, my hesitations and uncertainties have to be set aside.  The mere fact that there are people out there who choose to believe in my creative ideas though they know I'm just a nobody in cake making, is just overwhelming.  In a way, it helps me be the driven, motivated, inspired person that I want to become.

Farm-themed cake with cow

For his wife, he wanted a farm-themed cake, featuring a cow and a tractor.  From what I heard, the wife recently bought a farm.  That would have been his reason for choosing such theme.  

The project's design was created by creatively putting together two different concepts.  I personally love the idea of having those tiny flowers clung on the vine as it stretched around the cake.  The tractor was still the main attraction on the cake.  Although I must say it was one of the most simple/easy hand-molded figure I've ever made.  I prefer not to comment anything about the cow... 

Doc Benjamin's Birthday (August 1)

We had been honored to be invited and be a part of the special dinner that Kumare prepared for her husband.

Doctor Benjamin Rimando is the husband of our lovely Kumare Jeraldine. He is a well-respected man of such noble profession. On the 1st day of August, he celebrated his birthday, a day after mine.

When I came to know about the dinner, I instantly thought of making him a cake. So I baked the cake that same morning and decorated it in the afternoon. Hubby didn't wanna come to the party because of his eyes, at least he allowed me to go on my own.

It was basically the same group of people who usually come together for dinners held at their place, so there was no reason to feel left out. Food was superb, definitely no question about that. I can attest to the goodness of Kumare's cooking.

When dinner was over and some of the guests have gone, we continued the fun doing the only thing that we love to do. Nothing less than cam-whoring. Seriously, how could someone resist the sight of camera, especially when presented with all those shoes? Yes, Kumare brought out, well, "just a part" of her massive shoes collection and we all went mad about them. Each pair looked so divine that I just couldn't let the moment pass without trying them on. And then the rest of the girls followed. That little part of the room suddenly turned into like some of those photo shoot studios. 

Click link for photos:  

41st Family Day (Nov 20)

A memorable day for me and hubby as this marked our last week, last Sunday in our present house. Next week, on Friday, we will start taking some of our stuff in to the new place.  It located just across the highway, next door to the Umali's.  Not very far away...

Before the set of keys were even handed to us, we made use of the front and the side of the house for our photo shoots.  We know we are not allowed to but who cares, they won't even know it *laughs*. 

Click link for photos:  http://s929.photobucket.com/albums/ad136/sherylsantos31/2011%20Family%20Days/41st%20Family%20Day/

Project: Ben 10-themed birthday cake

Another cake order due weekend. Woohoo!

Marlyn messaged me on Facebook that she wanted a cake for a 5-year old boy's birthday. She didn't specify any theme, though she mentioned that the boy likes Ben 10. Somehow, that gave me an idea of what samples I need to look for and what design to make. That night I began searching the web, bit excited to get started

Just as I was all set to go, an unexpected message coming from her changed my plans. She wanted to cancel the cake order. Apparently the mother of the boy was sick. Lucky I haven't started making the base yet so it didn't really matter. Blessing in disguise it meant I could look forward to a relaxed weekend, which I desperately missed having in the last couple of weeks because I had cakes to make. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining or something. Of course I love what I do and it gives me the eagerness to learn and improve more on my skills. But when you've got a full time job that practically occupies your whole day, you have to really make extra effort.

Didn't really expect that things was gonna get better the next day when again I got a text from her, this time telling me to push through with the cake. Okay was all I could reply, at least she advised me ahead of time. I normally require two days to complete a project; one day to make the base and the next day to cover it up. She'll get it Sunday afternoon anyway, so there was no need to rush.

Omnitrix watch

Got this from Good Sammy and thought it would be perfect for my project.  I honestly have no idea whatsoever about superhero characters nowadays.  If not for my nephews who are obviously more up-to-date than I am, I'd be totally lost.





Now, here's the photo of my accomplished project.

Started off a bit late, so I finished just right before midnight.  Good thing it wasn't as complicated as my other projects in the past.  First time to use the letter press set I got from garage sale that morning; one reason why I had the cardboard covered with fondant.  The black liquid color has always disappointed me.  It turns gray when mixed with icing sugar.  That border was supposed to be black but failed to achieve my desired color, even after I've put so much black liquid color in it.  In some way, the omnitrix topper gave it a more distinct look.

39th Family Day (November 6)

A rainy Sunday it was.  But none of us would want to miss out the chance of coming together even just to hang out. Our less photos only showed that there was not much stuff to discuss in this album. Although it still won't be complete having dinner together, sharing fun and laughs at small things, exchanging not-so-serious conversations about practically anything. Those things form part of our only time off, after an entire week of work, work, work.

Link for photos:  

38th Family Day and Bunso's Birthday (October 30)

Two in one celebration - Bunso's birthday and Family Day.  Held at our place where they invited over some of their friends to join us for merienda/dinner.  Anekh organized the setup for the karaoke so others could sing along at the lounge area.  Everybody enjoyed the food prepared by the couple Winnie and Bunso.

It was another memorable Sunday.

Click link for photos:  

Project: Pink and girly shopping bag themed cake

I've made several cakes before but none of them could equal to all the hard work and effort that I put into this project.  This had to be the most intricate design I've ever done. 

order slip

One morning (last week), Boss called me in the office to hand me this piece of paper. Before I could even comprehend what was written on it, he threw a look at me as if he was waiting for my confirmation. It was noted on the paper, but the girl wanted a shopping bag themed cake. I've completely forgotten about all my apprehensions and gave him a confident yes right away. No idea where I got that answer from but something inside me was telling me that if I choose to believe I can do it, it will happen.

I did some research on similar projects to make sure I've got sufficient details in my head.  I've already got an idea in mind but I wanted to give it a touch of my own creativity and style.  Honestly, I was so pressured to give it my best shot.  They expect a lot from me. More than anybody else, I can't afford to disappoint myself if I mess up.  And I wouldn't want my boss to feel bad about recommending me to his friend either.

mini handbag, thongs, make up set

mini sandals

Don't they look cute?  These tiny ones got me working for hours the other night.  I've never tried working with hand-molded fondant figures before but I must say, it was very challenging.  The inspiration came from various works of renowned cake masters that I've seen on the web.  Never did it occur to me that I could soon be able to come up with such delicately crafted minis.

I've always felt thwarted by my lack of techniques and knowledge but this time, I thought I might give it a go.  That decision was probably just what I needed to make me open to opportunities of learning and improvement.

When I brought the cake to work this morning, they all gasped in awe, including my boss.  They couldn't hide their appreciation at how the whole idea of the theme was nicely put together.  The simple request for a shopping bag cake has gone far beyond their expectations, they affirmed. I was like floating in the air hearing all their good comments.

Project: Funny wedding anniversary cake

The client wanted their wedding anniversary cake to have some sense of humor, something different from the typical.  Instantly, I recalled an image of a cake I once saw at a cake shop in SM Fairview during our recent holiday.  The cake was in the shape of a bed made with fondant and on top of the bed lay two hand-molded figures of a male and a female curled up under a blanket.  I thought it might be the perfect inspiration for my project.

I've never tried doing faces before; I always get the notion that it's complicated.  But, I had to force myself to try no matter how hard it may seem.  Tried as much as I could to copy every detail of each head; the distinguishing feature was their hair.  There should be no confusion on their gender *laughs*. 

As soon as they were done, I couldn't stop myself from smiling because they looked so much like "Pido-Dida".

Project: Bride and groom cookies

When Rhianna came over to pick up the cake that she ordered, she saw the photo of a bride and groom cookies on my Ipad.  It was there for a reason.  It served as a guide for the joint cake project that I just finished making before she got there.  To my surprise, she wanted me to make her 25 pairs of those cookies for her wedding day.  But before I could actually say yes, my mind seemed hesitant to confirm.  First of all, I've got two cake orders due on the same weekend.  So how am I supposed to fit all those in my schedule?  I gave her a "yes", still. 

Thursday night, had the cookies baked; cooled overnight, ready for their outfit in the morning.

Friday, started the day early to accomplish orders.

First in line, cookies.  Was all set to proceed when I felt like there was a need to check Facebook, not really knowing there was something I was about to find out.  A message notification got my attention.  When I clicked on it, it was from Rhianna.   "Hey Sheryl I don't know whether you got my MSG or not I was just going to say not to worry about those biscuits!! I've been so busy and so it's a bit late now , hope you have a good day at work xxx".

Couldn't help but smile after reading it.  Somehow I was partly anticipating she would cancel but not on the last  minute.  I believe it was neither her fault nor mine that the message didn't get to me.  To be honest, I was even happier that things turned out that way.  That meant, I could concentrate on my two other projects.

Since it was supposedly my first time to work with fondant cookies, I didn't want to let that chance just pass me by without actually trying it. So I started doing the groom in tuxedo which took me almost an hour to finish. Every detail literally required so much effort. And because they were tiny, it was hard to control my hands from shaking.

To sum it all up, I've consumed nearly two hours just dressing up those two cookies. How much time could I've spent in order to finish the remaining 24 pairs?

A joint birthday dinner (October 29)

We were invited to be part of a unique celebration of two birthdays, actually three, in one event. Manang Vering's (Jeraldine's sister-in-law) actual birthday was last weekend; her husband's birthday followed in only a few days after. Bunso was the third person to complete the trio, although he had planned to celebrate it on the same day of our family day.

Link for photos:  

Project: A joint themed birthday cake

When this project was given to me the first thing that came into my mind was an image of a "doble cara" singer performing a male and a female duet by himself/herself. Funny but that was the best picture of how they wanted the cake to be like. I couldn't honestly think of any other way to make it look creative and artistic, but I knew I had to try harder to come up with a nice idea.

They only wanted a single-tier cake. Given that, I looked up the web for some couple cakes or cookies design that I could maybe put together. And I was just lucky enough to instantly find a few.

I used blue in place of the black for the male tuxedo, and pink for the bride's gown.  I chose not to add the vertical lines detail on the tuxedo for it to be plain and simple; whereas with the gown, I placed flower cut-outs all over it to emphasize the contrast.  

This was the third cake project that I had completed over the weekend.  Thank God I was able to finish all of them successfully.  

After spending countless hours working on each of them in the kitchen every night, all I needed was a good night sleep and words.  And it's such an overwhelming feeling when people give good comments about my work.  All the hard work simply pays off.  And I'm more inspired to do better on my next projects. 

Project: Cake topped with bows and curliques

Rhianna asked me to make her this cake for a tea party she was gonna have with her girlfriends prior her wedding.  She wanted it to be round, with bows and loops on top, and in pink and blue colors.

Last weekend was one of the busiest time I've ever had - three cakes in a row all for pick up on the same day.  This was the second on the line up.  I dressed it up in Friday night where I spent hours and hours making that lush design on top.  It was really fun because I've never done it before.  Got the idea from http://bakedecoratecelebrate.com/techniques/fondantbow.cfm?cat=4 , http://bakedecoratecelebrate.com/techniques/curliques.cfm?cat=4.

side detail

Something new and different to spice up a simple cake.

top view

I was so happy with the outcome of the cake.  And Rhianna loved it too.  She kept saying, "It's so nice".  All my hardwork really pay off when people appreciate my work.  It makes me want to do more projects.  

She was about to go when she saw the picture of a bride and groom cookies that I was looking at while working on my third project.  To my surprise, she wanted them for her wedding. 25 pairs.  I've never worked with coated cookies before but I knew my sister could help me out.  So I said yes.

Project: Baseball cap for Bunso's Birthday

First of the three cake projects that I made over the weekend.  A birthday present to a guy who simply loves wearing cap. 

Everybody calls him "Bunso" or youngest, because apparently he was the youngest amongst all the men who came here to work six years ago.  That doesn't define him as a person though.  His experiences and motivation in life could speak for himself as someone who has matured through time. 

This was pretty easy to make.  Dressing it up only took me about 30 minutes as compared to most projects that I normally do where I spend hours and hours.  The design itself wasn't very complex.  And the size was relatively as small as a soup bowl.  My roller/embosser hasn't arrived yet so I made use of a serrated scraper to make those lines on the cap.  I had quite a hard time making those button thing with hole around the top because of lack of some tools.  But thanks to Sheryl's innovation; found a way to make them without having to worry about fondant tools.  I know the swoosh (Nike's logo) doesn't look very good, at least I tried. *wink

37th Family Day (October 23)

A simple dinner to welcome our friends on their safe arrival to Albany.

Mila and the kids, together with Inay Letty (Winnie's mom) flew from Manila Friday morning and arrived Albany on Saturday morning. To add a more meaningful reason to celebrate our usual Sunday gathering, we decided to hold it at our place and invited them to come over.

A feast filled the dining table. Everybody enjoyed the food. It was also an avenue to meet and greet the new addition to the Filipino community.  Mila and kids will be here for good. Inay Letty though will be with us for only a few months.  Surely this won't be the first and last time.  Our family just got bigger and bigger with members.

Click link for photos: 

Stir-fried veggies with prawns and peanuts in oyster sauce

For our 37th Family Day.

I don't really know what this dish is called or if there's such dish as this that exists elsewhere, but one thing I'm sure of this is my own idea, own recipe.  

Hubby and I are into veggies lately.  We all know about the health benefits that our body can get from them and I don't understand why some people don't like them.  Cooking-wise they don't require long cooking time.  And I always enjoy preparing them; peeling and chopping may seem tedious for some. 

The right mixed of veggies makes a perfect dish.  The colors blend together which makes it more appetizing.  This dish is like the typical "guisado" that is mixed together with pansit.  But to give it a twist and a little bit of crunch, I added some asparagus and roasted peanuts.  Something new isn't it?  

The taste was so good.  In fact, I got a few questions from friends who were curious about how it was prepared.

Project: Dora and Friends themed cake for Charmelle's Birthday

Like most little girls here in Albany, she too loves Dora.  So much that she now has a massive collection of Dora the Explorer stuff.  She simply can't get enough of it all.

Inspired by her fascination, the concept for her birthday cake just dawned on me that got me so excited to start working on it.  The sample that served as my guide looked a bit challenging but soon I figured out how to make it less complicated yet with the same level of awe factor.  

Thankful that the fondant cutters I've ordered from Ebay came just in time but partly disappointed that the alphabet cutters didn't make it.  Dora and friends courtesy of Ashlyn ;-)

To be honest, part of me needs more confidence on the creative aesthetics of my designs.  I know this fondant making art entails a lot of skills/technique that someone as amateur as I am must strive hard to learn and improve on.  But as my progress continues, I am willing to fail; acquire new knowledge; be exposed to learning; gain experience; practice and who knows eventually be the best that I can be.

Charmelle on Stupeflix

http://studio.stupeflix.com/v/u3PWlCUG26/

As our bright and lovable "inaanak" celebrates her second birthday today, this super cute slideshow was made just for her.  

I picked out some of her most beautiful photos (from my Family Day album on Facebook) and while working on it, I've realized how quickly she has grown in just a span of ten months since we started having the every Sunday affair in January of the present year.  From the little girl who didn't have much hair to put a clip on, she now looks more charming in her two ponytails.  Yes she has more hair than she used to.  If other kids get annoyed at the camera when asked to pose, she is the exact opposite.  She loves being the subject and take note, she knows how to project  on her own.  I'm pretty sure she got that from her ninangs.  

The site was something new to me.  I used to make slideshows at onetruemedia.com.  But when I learned about this new site and saw that they've got cool themes, I wanted to make my own video project right away.  And this was my first slideshow attempt. 

"Hot Issue" is one Charmelle's favorite song even she was like only a year old.  She heard it first from Banana Split's segment of Hot Issue and since then she would always dance to the tune whenever she hears it.  

Click link for photos of her birthday celebration:  

 

Project: A cake for Hens Night

This is the cake that I made this afternoon for a friend's Hens Night.  I wanted to make her something naughty but she refused the idea because most of her guests will be from the church community so it won't be very appropriate.  Fair enough.

Knocked off from work at 2, we drove a few kilometers out of Albany to check out a garage sale.  We came to buy touchscreen monitors and USB flash drives that were sold at really low prices.

I had less than two hours left to finish the icing before they come over to pick it up.  Dressing up the cake was easy, using butter cream in pink color.  I didn't realize that the base was a little too big for the barbie to sit on.  It looked a bit odd to me but when I sat her on top in her skimpy bikinis, somehow, it was not that bad.

35th Family Day ( October 9)

Another Sunday gathering that was added to my compilation.  I just thought of reviving this multiply account that I had made a couple of years back for the reason of putting up photos and at the same time, writing short description or story behind every event that I get to be a part of. This is the perfect venue for me to document special memories that I would love to look back and reminisce in the years to come. And it really inspires me to make my every post distinct from the previous ones. Browsing through a particular album randomly, somehow brings a smile on my face. And because of that, I will try to continue and improve on what I have started for as long as I can because this gives me a certain feeling of happiness and fulfillment. 

Click link for photos:  

Project: Skateboard ramp cake

A couple of weeks ago, Kevin, our barista/manager at work asked me if I could make a cake for his son's birthday, in the theme of a skateboard ramp.  He showed me a photo of an actual ramp from his phone and it looked pretty easy to me, so I said yes.  That yes came out of my mouth right away because I knew right then and there that I could confidently come up with a good result.  The ramp itself looked doable.  The only thing I will have to creatively think about would be the details and some props to make it look realistic.

When I got home that night, I started looking up the web hopeful to find any similar cake design but to my disappointment there weren't any that got my attention.  As the days went closer and closer to the deadline, various ideas came flooding in my mind.  At this point, I needed to rely on my personal artistic skill (which have gone underutilized for years).

Here's a photo of  my accomplished project.

I know the writing doesn't look very good, that's one thing I still have to improve on.  Unfortunately, the alphabet cutter that I bought from Ebay hasn't arrived yet so I had to use a writing gel.  The mini skateboards were fun to make.  Should have used bright colors though.  

Anyway, as I was looking at it closely, couldn't help feeling a humble sense of accomplishment that I was able to come up with a design that I can really call my own.  Since I started making fondant cakes, sample photos that I search far and wide over the web play such a major role every time.  I use it as a guide, a tool, to assist me while working on a particular project that if I don't have it with me, I'd be lost.  But I always make it a point that it comes out as distinct as it can be from the original.  

Thai Noodles Craving

Our recent visit to the only Thai restaurant in Albany leaves us craving for more and more of their Pad Thai noodles.  We've heard so much about it long before we had the chance to actually try it.  When we finally did, the right words just won't come out to describe its real goodness.  It was too perfect for our taste preferences.  

Joop Thai's Pad Thai with seafood

Joop Thai's Pad Man Nam Hoi

Hubby ordered the Pad Thai while I decided to get a less popular dish that had more veggies in it and prawns.  It took me a while deciding because I had no idea what they taste like, but there was one thing I was sure of that might have helped me pick the right dish.  The fact that I love veggies, oyster sauce and prawns led my way to discover this seemingly simple dish yet oozing with flavor.  ("Man Nam Hoy" means oyster sauce, thanks to Google).

Because we've gotten head-over-heels crazy over Pad Thai, I've found this recipe over the net that could greatly help me learn, and who knows sooner or later, perfect the skill of making it in our own kitchen.

Click on the link: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/pohskitchen/stories/s3003993.htm

It looks so easy to follow.  I might just try it myself soon...

34th Family Day (October 2)

We missed out on last Sunday's gathering due to my work schedule conflict. I was asked to do a few hours shift at a nearby restaurant where I work part time.  Couldn't say no because it's not very often that offer like this happens.

Kumare has been having a terrible flu for days prior Sunday. She advised us earlier about not being able to join us but later on changed her mind though still feeling sick. I knew she didn't want to miss spending another Sunday without all of us present.

It actually felt like a week long of hard work has just vanished away. I don't know how to put into words but this routine has been like a form of relaxation for us. The laughter and funny moments we share even for a few hours make us feel rejuvenated.

Click link for photos: 

Joop Thai Experience (October 1)

We have long been wanting to try this much-talked about restaurant in town. Quite a few of our friends have tried it and they strongly recommend that we check it out as well.

I was once asked by a co-worker (at Dome) if I wanted to do some extra hours with her on weekends; she works over there and the owner happens to be a good friend of hers. I thought about the offer but eventually refused because I wasn't sure if my legs could still bear prolonged standing on top of my regular hours at the Dome.

Last Saturday, after going to the mass, we went straight to the restaurant. Still parked outside, I could see Lisa, another co-worker, sitting down on a bench, probably waiting for some take-aways. She greeted us on our way in, then Sabrina came to guide us to our table. The restaurant was quite full with a few big groups on long tables. A moment later, she came back to get our orders.

It didn't take long 'til drinks and entree were served. We super loved the fish crackers. I was expecting it would be like "chicharap" but the appearance and taste was way better than that. We got so occupied facebooking through our mobiles that we didn't realize we have been waiting for over an hour already for our meals. It was understandable because apparently, the big tables had ordered before us.

The meals were finally served. Overwhelming serving, good enough for two-three persons. Hubby got the Pad Thai with seafood while mine was Pad Nam Man Hoi with prawns. We had a taste of each others meals and both tasted really good. The one I got had heaps of veggies in it, which are really my favorite. And hubby's stir-fried noodles was quite hot and flavorful with bits of nuts. Superb quality and quantity at a fairly good price. 

 

A useful link to learn more about baking

http://www.bakedecoratecelebrate.com/

I came across this site while browsing.  It's like a one-stop-site for anyone who has the passion for baking, cake making and decorating.  It offers basically everything there is to know from recipes, to techniques to projects that may seem daunting for beginners.  One can find every bit of information that would make baking more exciting and fulfilling, at the same time.

Project: Fourth Boobies Cake

My boobies cake has become so popular after my first attempt to make one for a friend's birthday.  I wasn't really sure then if could actually do it.  My sister was the one who encouraged me to try because she makes cakes way better than I do.  "There's no harm in trying", I said to myself.  And indeed she was right.

Since then, I've made two more.  And just last week, another order came up for the weekend.

Wednesday, I started browsing the web for some ideas in style.  Though I've already got an idea in mind, I knew I could get more choices with the help of Google.  I decided to stick to the heart-base since it obviously appears sexier when dressed, or shall I say, covered with fondant.  That way, it would be more convenient looking up for similar images.  After leafing through a few pages, I finally found what I was looking for.

Thursday, I baked the heart cake base.

Friday, I frosted the cake with buttercream icing then covered it up with melted marshmallows fondant.  When I finished smoothing the surface, I started making the tiny flower cut-outs.  I so love doing it.  I just roll out the fondant, press down with cut-outs and lift away!  I

Here's my finished product boobies cake.

Vianca Rey's 13th Birthday (September 17)

She's the eldest daughter of our friends Allan and Vivian. Now at 13, she's officially a teenager.

The party was held at their place. Guests were asked beforehand to come dressed in striped outfits. Most of us, ladies came wearing what we were told we should wear - striped in vertical or horizontal or diagonal. With the men, you can't really expect them to follow dress codes. Chances are, they'll wear whatever they feel like comfortable wearing. And that was what I noticed at the party, though it didn't really matter whoever came prepared or not. Still, everyone had a wonderful time. The fun and laughter of the successful dinner were captured in photos that will last a lifetime.

Click link for photos: 

33rd Family Day (September 18)

Post-celebration of Michelle's 18th birthday.

Every girl fancies about having a big party for their eighteenth.  Why not?  It signifies the beginning of an exciting new phase in their life -- the journey to maturity.  But only a few would want a simple celebration, far from flamboyance and extravagance. And Michelle, is one of them. She just wanted to celebrate her eighteenth with us, along with our usual Family Day gathering.

Click link for photos:  

Project: Ipod cake

One cake after the other, how was that? 

Saturday - Instead of going to bed after having gone from the striped-themed dinner party at Rey's place, I still had to do my unfinished project.  Another cake that was waiting to be covered and decorated with fondant.  Lucky I've had it frosted with butter cream icing the night before.  

Just got changed, put on my apron then went straight to the kitchen.  Had all my stuff ready and handy.  When working with fondant, it's necessary to keep everything needed just within reach because hands get dirty easily.  I'm still in the process of learning a systematic way of doing it without having to make a mess.

It didn't take me long to finish covering up the cake.  In fact, I spent more time making the Ipod and the earphone than the base itself.  Couldn't quite figure out how to make them appear relatively indistinguishable from the original which apparently, resulted to a "second-rate trying hard copycat".  To make it worst, I messed around with the text on the menu button.  Tried using a silver writing gel but didn't work, so I ended up using a Pilot black pen (which meant the white part of the control button could not be eaten!)  To add some details, I decided to make some tiny heart cut-outs around the sides then placed them overlapping one another atop the cake, next to the Ipod.  Surprisingly, it didn't look so bad after all.  It gave me a certain feeling of relief that my effort was not at all put to waste.

Project: Bratz-inspired cake

When the invitation came to my knowledge, I knew right away that I was gonna make a cake.  But for a 13th birthday, I couldn't instantly picture out a design on my mind.  

Friday came, the ideas I've worked so hard to gather in the last couple of days seemed to have fallen into their right places (without much of my help needed).  

This Bratz topper had been kept in the box for quite some time now since I bought it.  Little did I know that it could be useful in my recent project.  

Just looking at her sitting on top of the cake, wearing shimmery eye shadow and lipstick exudes an image of glamour.  The tiny flowers placed artistically around her all in refreshing colors make up a total package of what teenagers are like - vibrant and fresh. 

Chad Umali's Birthday Dinner (September 10)

His passion for cooking is undeniably exceptional. He is the ultimate cooking master way before Masterchef and all other reality cooking shows have become popular. He can cook most dishes with great speed and ease.

Friday was his actual birthday but they held the dinner on Saturday. It was just a small gathering of regular attendees, with Rex, Joel and Alara as special guests. Of course, with the special participation of the most handsome priest in the universe, Father Bong. *joke* haha

Dinner didn't start until all of us were there. We were the last ones to arrive because we couldn't leave the turkey behind still roasting in the oven. As soon as we had sat down, Chad gave us a go to start dinner. The food was, as usual, very delicious. I specifically loved the Kalderetang Kambing, with its rich flavor and meat so tender to the bite.

After dinner the boys gathered themselves in one corner of the room for their drinking session, while us, girls, grabbed the microphones and started with our own karaoke session. Kumare Geraldine brought over a bottle of Fruitwood wine for the ladies to drink. I haven't had any alcohol for the longest time. It made me feel a bit dizzy for a moment then was all good.

Click link for photos: 

32nd Family Day (September 11)

As the week progresses towards its end, I always pray for a fine and/or sunny Sunday. If my wish would be granted, it could only mean two things. First, I might get sent home early from work and second, we could start early with our gathering.

Last Sunday, I was sent home just before lunchtime which made me excited, in a way. It was still too early to start off so I decided to spend some karaoke time in the living room. I totally had fun just me singing for a couple of hours. Glad my vocal chords didn't fail me.

Time was up. We were gonna go see The Brig Amity but it started getting breezy and chilly. But knowing us, we never run out of ideas. Why do we have to go far away when there is outside waiting to be explored, once again.

Click link for photos:  

31st Family Day (September 4)

It's amazing how devoted we've become to this every-Sunday-is-a-Family-Day thing. The fact that we make effort to prepare something to share on the dining table is one proof. Hubby and I always discuss about what to bring over and that even includes research. We strive, as much as we can to achieve variety and balance in the food that we serve; where there should be a main dish, a lite-dish whether pasta/noodles or soup and of course, sweets.

When Sunday afternoon comes, we just find ourselves gathering in one place, where we always meet together. It has been a part of a routine, a system that we can't just live without. For an entire week of hard work, all we need is at least a few hours to relax both our minds and spirits, so we can start the next day with a smile and a fresher outlook. 

Click link for photos:

Home-made Meat Loaf

Finally had the courage to try making this in our own kitchen. I've always wanted to for the longest time. But the fact that we don't have a food processor at home, which is quite a shame, always seems to discourage me and I can't be bothered chopping with my bare hands. No way. 

Just so you know, we haven't bought a new food processor yet.  Let's just say, I was in the mood for some hard work.  It shouldn't be too hard, I hope.

It took me ages before I could finish chopping the ingredients.  The hardest part was doing the onion.  I almost wanted to cry.  It was fun, though.  Especially for someone like me who's trying it for the first time. 

Embutido

When steaming was done, I was so excited to slice one log just to see if I did it right.  Surprisingly, it looked so much like the real thing and the taste was also very good.  I might have to make one again soon.  

Hopefully, I've got a food processor by then.

30th Family Day (August 28)

Another rainy Sunday. We had no other choice but to stay indoor. We don't really mind spending the whole time inside the venue because we can still do most stuff without having to go somewhere else. I guess the only limitation is the fact that we have nothing except a white backdrop (laughs). But that doesn't limit our creativity, neither does it lessen our level of fun and enjoyment.

We love what we do. Though some people would describe it as repetitive because of the usual stuff that we carry out over and over again, it doesn't bother us at all. For as long as we don't do any harm or offend others, there's absolutely nothing wrong in finding some form of happiness without much effort.

Click link for photos:  

29th Family Day ( August 21 )

It has been a while since the last time we went out to enjoy a lovely day. If my memory serves me right, we stopped the location shoot sometime between March and April, when the weather started getting wintery. From then on we've been stuck spending the afternoon indoor.

To break the monotony, we decided to go out to see some sights that we haven't been able to see.

First Location: Cull Park, Miramar

The whole town of Albany is generously surrounded by parks and gardens that are accessible anytime of the day. This one at Miramar is relatively small compared to the others. The man-made bridge and small pond set facing the road is an added attraction.

Second Location: Emu Point

I've never been over to the site before and was just so delighted to be there for the first time. It reminded me of Hillarys Boat Harbour where we went to the Aquarium of Western Australia and Breakwater two years ago. It was getting darker by the minute so we wasted no single moment to explore the place. 

Click link for photos:  

Project: Bible Cake

A religious person deserves a religious cake.  For a priest's/friend's birthday, I couldn't think of any other design that would symbolize his noble vocation than a bible or a cross design.  As I browsed for images, I've seen samples of bible cakes that looked easy to make and thought to myself, "I can make one myself".  

And this was what I came up with.

my version of bible cake

Bottom cake: Moist chocolate cake

Bible cake: Chocolate marble cake 

I decided not to make another cake for the bible since only a small piece of it would be needed.  Instead, I just bought a slab of chocolate marble cake from Coles; trimmed off the sides to create the perfect dimension of the book then covered it with fondant.  Voila!  My bible cake was all set to go. 

Inay Juling visits places around Albany

Date: August 19, 2011
Location: Middleton Beach and Eyre Gardens

Second "Gala Day" with Inay Juling, this time around Kumare Jeraldine was with us.

Immediately after work, I met with them at the car park. Didn't even get a chance to get changed so I ended up wearing my work clothes in the photos, which I don't normally do. Anyway, it didn't make the experience any less exciting. Our concern was mainly for Inay Juling to enjoy and explore beautiful sights that Albany has to offer.

Click link for photos: 

Asawa Ko's Birthday Dinner (August 7)

We've had three birthday celebrations within that span of one week. First was my birthday exactly seven days back, second was Doc's the following day after mine and then Hubby's.

Once again, the 7th fell perfectly on a Sunday. Just like our usual Sunday affair, each family group shared a plate of their offering. It was amazing how instantly the dining table looked so festive, with all the delectable foods. Hubby was very much overwhelmed. He didn't get as much exposure as he could though because of his eyes still infected with conjunctivitis. I could tell how he wanted so much to cherish that moment.

The guys were taking their time, one song after another over the karaoke, while for us ladies, only one thing could make us gather in one spot - the camera. Apparently, it was like our event, with the celebrant behind the lens to take photos of us. That only proved how much we ladies have become very passionate about the art.

Click link for photos: 

Inay Juling visits places Part I

This album is dedicated to Inay Juling's first visit to Albany. We are so delighted to share in her excitement and new experience as she goes to see some of the most favored tourist attractions of the town.

Date: August 12, 2011
Location: Mt. Melville Lookout and Albany Wind Farm

Click  link for photos:  

28th Family Day (August 14)

The first two consecutive Sundays since coming back in Albany had been intended for birthdays, which meant that we are officially back to continue what we had started. And that is our "Every-Sunday-is-Family Day-affair".

If I am not mistaken, the last Family Day that we had before leaving for holiday was the 25th. We missed out five Sundays of pure bonding and laughter with the gang. But the fun continues now that we're all back again and ready for more memorable experiences.

Click link for photos: 

Pasta with prawns and chicken

Once again we've got left-over prawns and roasted chicken from yesterday. Instead of putting them into the bin like what we normally do with our day-old food, I used my imagination to come up with a dish where they can be used.

Thanks to Google for providing the procedure though I had to substitute some of the ingredients.  The taste was so good.  Who would even say that it's been recycled from a previously cooked dish?  Sometimes we have to be innovative and creative when it comes to food preparation.  That way we get the right nutrients the body needs, at the same time, we get value for our money.

Wanton noodle soup

29th Family Day.

A soup to complement the tofu sticks that we made (previous post), at the same time, to make us feel warm.  

wanton noodle soup

Every time the week comes to a Saturday, Hubby and I have made it a part of our routine to do food shopping.  That's the only time we get to buy bottled water, other food stuff to feed us for the week ahead as well as the ingredients we will need for our Family Day dish.  Most of the time, what's keeping us long is deciding what to cook.  I know we should have thought about it prior coming to the supermarket, but we always end up in the same scenario every single time.  Anyway, we're working on it gradually.



For last Sunday, we picked an easy dish to make.  We wanted to create a wanton noodle soup with various add-ons to choose from - dumplings, hard-boiled eggs, flaked chicken.  It was pretty interesting doing it for the first time.  In no more than an hour, we were able to finish making two meals simultaneously.  The soup looked so inviting while it was still hot and steaming. 

The photo above shows that I forgot to put some chicken and eggs, out of so much excitement to capture the oozing vapor coming from the soup.

We really didn't expect it would taste so good when we tasted it.  The vegetable dumplings we used were also a hit and they couldn't believe it only cost us $1.84 for a box of 12.  Instead of making our own siomai/dumpling, this would make a perfect substitute.