1000-Year-Old Egg & Pork Congee

another day @ work, another bowl of 皮蛋瘦肉粥 =D

Hello Kitty Tiramisu Mousse Cake

Happy Birthday Ying! this has got to be one of my proudest baked creations to date! isn't this a fabulous Hello Kitty cake? =D

it was very last minute, but it turn'd out great. My co-worker Ying's BF email'd me one day introducing himself & inviting me to her surprise bday party. since i only knew Ying about a month & hung out with her once, i didn't know what she liked. coincidentally when i ask'd her BF for ideas on a bday gift, he told me that she had want'd some Hello Kitty slippers from Target, but couldn't find her size @ that location. So, i quickly decided that i want'd to make her a Hello Kitty cake since i was plan'n one for my own bday a few months away (totally OBSESS'D, i know!). i ask'd Ying what type of desserts she liked & she said tiramisu (yup, that was it. hahaha. "tiramisu & everything"), so tiramisu it'll be...kinda. since Julie's tiramisu charlotte had some structural issues, i knew i had to figure an alternative solution, so i went with an espresso chocolate cake w/ espresso cream cheese mousse. everyone LOVED it! =D

here goes plan'n of the look.

 aren't my cakeboard & toppers adorable? they're Hello Kitty too! =D

microwaved some Candymelts in the microwave in a bowl of water for Hello Kitty's facial features

Hello Kitty's eyes, nose, whiskers made of Candymelts

this is my fabulous Hello Kitty mold! it's actually a McDonalds Happy Meal toy, got it a few years ago & it's been stored safely in my closet. i made the mousse & let it set in the fridge for half an hour or so

after the mousse set halfway, i top'd it with the espresso chocolate (mocha) cake

after the mousse set firmly, i unmolded the 2 layers & stack'd them

first off, i crumb-coat'd the cake in whip'd cream

after piping the entire cake with whip'd cream stars, on went the Candymelts bow, eyes, nose & whiskers

gotta love that mold!!! =D

 box'd & ready to surprise the birthday girl. i LOVE all the colors & how this look'd!

here's the birthday girl, the surprise guest (me) & the surprise cake =D

girls rule! boys drool! hahaha.

i LOVE how the layers came out to be exactly the same height =D

 

when i was making the Hello Kitty cake, i also made a very tiny cake for Auntie Zhen, who coincidentally likes tiramisu too.  

i had want'd to pipe big flowers for Auntie Zhen's cake since i think all Mommies should be gift'd with flowers, but since i don't know how to pipe flowers, i top'd the cake with 5 Candymelts hearts that i randomly made while piping Hello Kitty's facial features, turn'd out impressive, eh?

there were 5 hearts - they represent her 4 daughters & her grandson. Auntie Zhen is so cute, she actually call'd to thank me after she ate it. Anytime! =D

Sanrio x Maxim

i've been try'n to brainstorm a few Hello Kitty cake ideas for the past week or 2. and today, i so randomly came across these fabulously adorable Sanrio cakes by Maxim, a bakery chain in Hong Kong. 

i am lean'n towards replicating this one =D

you can only pick one. a day. =D

every piece of yummy in this case & the one next to it were call'n for me. i heard them from blocks away. they've been call'n for weeks, but i only, finally "adopt'd" one of them today. guess who i chose?

all of these impressive-look'n & drool-inducing yummies are from shaws (& spinelli's). i used to drool over the display case @ the BU shaws too, but i never gave in. i only admired their prettiness & the nicely setup case.

i need'd something cake-y & something chocolate-y, so i got a simple piece of chocolate cake with oreos. i knew exactly how it'll taste since i always buy chocolate & vanilla cake slices from supermarkets, but this time, it was a tad disappoint'n. not enough sugary icing & the cake is a tad dry. :( but it's still satisying. :)