Mango Mousse Lychee Mirror & Strawberry Cake for Pearl's B-Day

here's the spongebase. i absolutely LOVE the recipe from Okashi by Keiko Ishida. i made it 3 times & it's perfectly moist & spongy every time.

the middle layer: mango mousse, strawberries, lychee

 

the top layer is a color'd lychee jelly. the 1st time, the jelly leak'd out the bottom, but it seal'd off the gaps & the 2nd time was a success. i used whip'd cream to write "Pearl."

this is how i transport'd the cake. hahaha. the dim sum steamer cover protect'd my cake from Irene's rain.

had to transport it with the cake ring to use the steamer cover.

here's the birthday girl making a wish

us with our lychee-less lychee martinis

my lychee martini & mango lychee strawberry cake

birthday girl got caked! maybe it was a bad idea for me to bring a cake to a drink'n bash. LOL! she made those punks apologize to me for wasting it. HAHAHA.

think it's time to diet...=X

tummy was flat for a few days from excessive nose-blow'n & cough'n, BUT it has been E-X--P---A----N-----D'N!!! this week, i've been pig'n out on too much good food, dude! must've gain'd 8 pounds. i gotta learn discipline!!! but i can't. HAHAHA.

it all start'd on thursday. my team moved offices so we were welcomed with au bon pain cater'd breakfast. i got in around 7:40, so i ate a sandwich bag of dumplings & "choy sum" veggies with apple juicy juice. 9:00 comes along & ABP brkfst comes. i saw wilson with a choco croissant, but there were no more in the conference room, so upon complain'n, wilson cut me half of his. hehe. went back to my desk with my berry croissant & half of the choco one, then took out my chocochip muffin too, that i bot & forgot to eat the day before. didn't eat the berry croissant (still in my fridge @ the moment), but i ate both of the choco pastries with OJ. LOL! 2:00 comes along, i ate my Singapore curry vermicelli, made the night before. PIG!

for dinner, i made Japanese hamburg with House brand Japanese curry.

i had the hamburg with a glass of Sprite. I DO (DID) NOT DRINK SODA! growing up, i was always drink-deprived @ all the parties where no juice was offer'd. i didn't drink water or soda. i'm a weirdo & always will be. hehe. but i start'd loving water many years ago. i don't drink soda because the carbonation "stings". i start'd drink'n Sprite after 3 recent banquet dinners & now i crave it. finish'd one 1L bottle in the past week.

on friday, judy, sam & i went to mccormick & schmick's for restaurant week. BOY! were the portions HUGE? i had rice with string beans & chicken for breakfast with a Starbucks grande soy latte @ my desk around 8am. then met up for lunch @ 12:15. it was 3 courses for $20.11. i ate half of everything & I WAS SOOOO STUFF'D FROM IT! MY GOSH!

for course 1, i had caesar salad - it turn'd out 4 times bigger than i had expect'd. i ate half.

for course 2, i had fried gulf shrimp with fries & cole slaw. the entree turn'd out WAY big too! i was shock'd! it was yummy too! i loved how big the shrimp were! i ate all the shrimp & a little of the fries & slaw.

for course 3 - DESSERT!!!! YAY! - there were 3 choices - creme brulee, boston cream pie or flourless chocolate cake. i went with the boston cream pie. it came out as a giant custard layer'd cupcake & it was pretty yummy, but i only managed to fit half in my tummy.

after the big lunch, i was nervous about sushi buffet dinner for 2 reasons: 1) i won't eat my $'s worth, 2) i'll hav to pay for anything left un-eaten (hate this policy, but totally agree with it). after work, i had yet another Starbucks latte - this time an iced grande no classic (syrup) soy unshaken green tea latte. then pearl, diana & i shop'd for 2 hours before head'n to dinner. luckily, there was a 45 minute wait. good for me! but my pals were hungry.

when this piece of salmon teriyaki came, i was laugh'n @ how tiny it was. cheapos!

then this pork katsu (fried pork cutlet) came (same plate as above), i took back the "cheapo" comment.



and here's our sushi. we finish'd all but 2 pieces, so we didn't get charged extra for wasting food. as always, the sushi was delicious!!!

the next morning, saturday, diana & i went shop'n & end'd up so hungry, we bot food from target. 2 personal pepperoni pizza hut pizzas & 1 crispy rice treat for me.

for dinner, i cook'd diana come miso soup udon with silken tofu, and served her a nice glass of coke with 2 slices of lemon. Oh the service of me is unbeatable!

after we ate, we head'd out for pearl's b-day bash. irene was on way, but nothing was gonna stop us. i HAD to deliver the birthday cake!!! i got the cake idea the day before when we were shop'n & pearl point'd out a sign advertising "mango lychee sangria." this is my 1st time making mousse & a mirror cake. it was fun & satisfying as usual! i baked a thin sponge, sandwich'd it with mango mousse, strawberries & lychee, & top'd it with a color'd lychee jelly.

i don't usually do lychee, but john randomly order'd us lychee martinis, so i gave away my lychee fruit & enjoy'd the martini with my cake.

finally, here's what i had for lunch/dinner today. as part of the pig's routine, i slept until 11, then nap'd from 2-4. when i woke up, i made hamburg again, with onion this time & served with Japanese worchestershire sauce.

BTW thanks irene for leaving me unaffect'd by your hurricane self, excessive rain & strong 75mph winds. i am grateful! 

Japanese Hamburg & Curry

had Singapore-style curry yesterday, having Japanese-style curry today. =D

i've been craving Japanese hamburg consistently for weeks now & i've been too lazy to make it, plus ground beef hasn't been on sale, but just now, i just had to make some! i took a piece of frozen beef outta the freezer, cut the iced up meat into slices (imagine all the boom bang's on the kitchen counter), then diced it the best i could. i'm used to handling with frozen meat, but it's always a frighten'n endeavor!!! i did hurt myself once - made a "2-paper-cuts" size slit into my finger nail. AHHH! OUCH! actually twice. another time i made a tiny slit on the side of my finger.

anyways, done with the "TMI" little pains & accidents.

to the ground beef, i add'd soy sauce, mirin, tonkatsu sauce, an egg & breadcrumbs. wish i had an onion!!! then i cook'd the hamburg in some oil for a few minutes to brown, added water to cook it through, & finally pour'd in the storebought Japanese curry sauce. after a few simmers & the rice was freshly done cook'n, i can eat! Yay!!!


dinner in bed! =D

tiger sweets for Connorbaby's 1st B-Day Party

today Connor turns ONE! Happy Birthday Connorbaby!!! I LOVE YOU!!! XOXOXO!!!

for Connorbaby's 1st birthday party yesterday, Helenmommy & i decided on a tiger theme since Connor was born in 2010, the year of the Tiger. So, i design'd the tiger & baked cookies, cupcakes & a cake with that design.

i baked the cookies on friday night, took me about 3 hrs to bake & ice them.

the icing was way too runny this time, but i got too lazy to fix it.

one down, 32 to go. hehe.

meanie me always tempt'n tofupuppy. =P

aren't my tigerpups cute?

one egg yield'd 33 cookies. isn't that amazing? the cookies were left out to dry overnight.

baked 24 ghiradelli red velvet cupcakes at Helenmommy's request

making my first rainbow cake. FUN! always love colors!!!

the rainbow cake with the burnt sugar cookie ears

almost ready to go.

bring on the rainbow sprinkles! a baby party can't be complete without 'em! don't these look so elegant, but cute @ the same time?

one more rainbow! rainbow cake, rainbow sprinkles & the Care Bears play'n on the rainbow.

here is the birthday boy!

here's my bestie BB & her nephew the birthday boy!

Yay! Connor likes my tiger cookies!!!

my 3rd time baking for a baby party & they all happen'd this Summer. =D

the red velvet cupcakes top'd with cream cheese vanilla buttercream & homemade toothpick toppers.

the rainbow cake top'd with vanilla swiss meringue buttercream. it look'd like an orange bear instead cos i forgot the tiger marks. hahaha.

the 2 one-yr-olds Connorbaby & tofupuppy's 2nd encounter ever. they met (kinda) 10 months ago during Connor's 2-month-old party, the morning after tofu came home with me from the breeder's. tofu is exactly 7 days older than Connor. i'm sure they will grow up as close buddies. Connor even pet "wo wo" (Chinese baby talk for dog) =D

tofu looks like an oldie here. haha.

look how happy Mr. 4 Teeth is.

ready to cut the cake with Mommy & Daddy

and here is the other August baby boy - Jayden who will be turn'n 3 in 2 days. these 2 love each other, been play'n together for months when tofu was wee big.

tofu looks HUGE here! LOL!

a slice of the rainbow =D

YUMMY! the best part of any meal - DESSERTS!!! the coconut jelly made with agar-agar & mung bean jelly were made by Auntie Yau, who has promised to teach me how to make Chinese "tee" - traditional sweet or salty variations of "cakes/dumplings" recipes that are not found in cookbooks & only the older generations know how to make. i can't wait!!! the red velvet cupcake & rainbow cake were made by me of course. =D