Let's Eat (More) Cake

I'm sorry.

I can't have enough of 'em cakes:

 

 

(Images courtesy of Sweet & Saucy Shop)

Let Us Eat Cake

M's cousin is getting married early next year in Seattle and we're going for their 1st wedding reception in Delhi in October, and then hopefully to their 2nd one in Seattle the year after.

My friend and unofficial official dressmaker may also be getting married. Soon-ish. Well, I think they may get married. 'Eck - blame the boyfriend who suggested that my friend join him to look for an apartment together. Does that count as a proposal?

Anyways, I am dreaming again. It's a good thing - dreaming.

. . .  Of cakes.

Beautiful, sculptural, whimsical wedding cakes, no less.

 

 

 

 

 

(All images courtesy of Maggie Ausin Cake)

Party Time!

Well . . . not in another week or so.

We are celebrating Nad's birthday.

Again.

For the 3rd time. This coming weekend.

This time in London.

With her dadi (grandma in Urdu) and Chachu (that's uncle in Urdu, I think) and almost all of M's family and friends in that part of the world.

We have not sorted out anything.

I'm hankering over these cute cookies in the meantime.

(Images courtesy of Eleni's)

CNNadine

I've been neglecting this repository off-late.

Not done on purpose. Honest.

Family life and work commitments pulls me away. Time slips by rather quickly. Not that I am complaining.

Blogging here is an "escape" somewhat from my everyday sometimes ho-hum chaotic maddening life. M with his every other monthly craving for something chocolatey and fudgey; Nad on the verge of "indie steps/walks" (as Exp poetically puts it); Stairway and Empress bouncing of the walls either chasing each other around the home or dodging Nad's advances.

And boxes still unpacked. Yes. Boxes. Still around after 3 months. I have decided to leave them as they be under the staircase. I'll deal with them when I have the time.

With all the madness the last few months, it was a respite to escape to tea yesterday in honour of the birthday girl. All 365 days, this girl is. All almost-6-teethy grinning babe.

Happy Birthday my Love.

And, a pleasant surprise, CNN celebrated its 60th anniversary on the same day - 1 June.

Rainbow

Cake is always welcomed in our home.

Anytime of the day.

(Image courtesy of Whisk Kid)

For a while now, I've been obsessed with the rainbow cake. Almost dying to try a hand at baking sheet cakes and laying every single sheet atop a layer of buttercream frosting.

Purple. Blue. Red. Green. Yellow. All hues of the rainbow.

Then I got giddy (read : scared) from all that potentially (well, I know so) long patience-testing process. So, I kopped out and take to oggling pictures of rainbow cakes which other bloggers had a hand in baking.  

Cake will be had at Nad's party in 2 weeks. But of course!

But before I forget, happy belated birthday Exp!

And E, have a great birthday next week. :-)

Lego Love

While we're (somewhat) still talking about birthdays, I would have been the happiest kid if I had a birthday cake decked out with candles that look like Lego blocks.

(Image courtesy of Perpetual Kid)

What bliss!

What fun!

Polka Dot Beauty

I really should be sleeping.

Deep sleep.

After all, I have had a full day in spending a few hours out battling the rain and crowds along Orchard Road. This with public transportation (I am soo thankful our new apartment is within walking distance to a train station but that's a story for another time.). And then back home for a whole 10 minutes before heading out for dinner with my sister and her brood and then marketing here.

Exhausted. You bet.

So even though I am still living amongst our moveables still packed up in boxes and half finished projects (ie. window treatment-less, paintings and art still lined against the walls; no telly console just yet as we want to let our bank accounts breathe (I am very old-fashioned when it comes to money and renovations.), I have been thinking - as I lay down trying to get some shut-eye - about Nad's 1st birthday.

I do want to have a party. I think. And more often than not, I argue within myself alot about including balloons.

You see, unnecessary rubber/latex that are the balloons will probably not bode well with the hubs - the eco-warrior M. But damn, aren't these balloons just screaming to be at Nad's party?

(All images courtesy of Plates and Napkins)

Salam Eid ul-Fitri

Today marks the end of Ramadan.

We started our 1st day of Syawwal at my mom's congregating with my sister and her family, before heading off to visit other relatives.

Thankfully, Nadine has been behaving despite being dressed in a cute white frock for the 2nd time in a week.

For prosterity, we had a decent photo taken of us:-

Flashback 24 hours prior, my sister and I spent a couple of hours at the nursery, picking our flowers to liven up our homes for the festivities:- 

(The loot from the nursery for my mom, sister and me)

(Failed miserably at a modern calla lilies and bear grass arrangement attempt)

(Ornamental cabbage - too pretty to ignore. You can eat them as I found out. Our furballs are enjoying nibbling them!)

(Hydrangeas --> pretty)

Hmmm . . . I just realised that I the flowers are in shades of purple.

stolen

I know this is a dry post.

It's dry because it has no pictures.

So, I offer two stolen stories: one about Cinnamon and the other from the latest donna hay magazine (issue 42, Dec/Jan 2009) which is chockful of goodies and wonderful pictures... i pilfered two recipes to make the christmas bird:

Cranberry Relish (tweaked)

350g fresh cranberries
150g red-globe grapes
2 cups of caster sugar
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoon sherry vinegar
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 tbsp ginger liqueur

1. Place cranberries, grapes, sugar and water in a small saucepan over low heat and stir until sugar dissolved.

2. Add the vinegar, wine and liqueur and cook for 20 mins or until sauce thickens.

3. Spoon into jars and store in the fridge. Serve with turkey. {Was good with ham too!}

{The original recipe asks for 500 g frozen cranberries and 1/4 cup Port instead of white wine and the liqueur. Ginger liqueur is available at Eu Yan Sang}

The turkey recipe was Martha Stewart's {I skipped the cheesecloth part, I simply baste with Donna Hay's Orange-Tarragon Butter and dry white wine+ freshly-squeezed orange juice mixture}

Orange-Tarragon Butter

Combine 150g softened butter, 1 tablespoon finely grated orange rind, chopped tarragon (3 sprigs), 2 crushed cloves garlic, salt and pepper.