Congo Bars & VSC

Last Saturday I have decided to try out baking Congo Bars. I saw them on Kitchen Guardian’s instagram.

But mine turned out to be more cakey then what I imagined them to be:

I made them using the recipe from Bisous À Toi here.

Ingredients
2 3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
150g butter, softened
320g light brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
320g chocolate chips

I was reading through Bakerella’s and I have decided to mix the ingredients by hand. Probably why mine was cakey.

Methods
Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Set aside.
Stir brown sugar into softened butter in another large bowl until butter disappears. You can use the back of your spoon to help incorporate the two together.
Add eggs one at a time to butter mixture and stir well after each egg.
Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts. Mix well.
Add dry flour mixture and stir until well combined.

Mine is also a little taller cause I used 10 x 10 pan instead of the 13 x 9 recommended pan. hee. I was lazy to dig and find the 13 x 9 pan. I like how this congo bars taste like cookies. Indeed it is true! Brownie + cookie! Will try to do it again using mixer and 13 x 9 pan. Want mine to be a little similar to Kitchen Guardian’s! (here, here, here, here)  Not satisfied with mine that’s why I didn’t bother to take more pictures.

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Told you my family (or rather my mum) loves Victoria Sandwich Cake. She made them again & again.

For my aunt’s and uncle’s anniversary:

Cute version:

Adik’s Birthday: Macaron Pyramid and Bouquet of RVC

Finally!! I cheated a little and bought the macaron pyramid from here. Baked macarons on the previous weekend using the same recipe as always.

Ta-dah! Macaron “Tower”. Wait, it’s Macaron Pyramid. It reminds me of the Lourve Museum. I went there last year but I didn’t get to take the photo of the pyramid. Regrets! Only the picture below.

Anyway, Mama baked Red Velvet cupcakes and this time she used the recipe from Bisous À Toi. Mama added nutella creamcheese frosting inside the cupcakes and top it with the normal creamcheese rosette. And she made them into a bouquet of flowers. Last minute idea in the middle of the night!!

I hope Adik is happy with the bakes we did for her birthday. Did not really have an actual round birthday cake though. And after one year, finally, there’s macarons! With pyramid!! 😀

I shall try to bake something else soon.

Mama’s: Red Velvet Cake

Mama and I joined forces again for BIL’s birthday cake yesterday. A very simple last minute cake.

Red Velvet Cake with cream cheese frosting! 🙂 We baked the RVC using Kitchen Guardian’s recipe here.

Mama’s Again and Again

I am Mama’s weekend employee again. This time round it was a mad rush. Mama overestimated our capabilities. Haaaa! What’s with 3 big orders and babysitting the kids. I almost go crazy.

 

Due to the extreme big rush, I did not get to take pictures of my first full cake (Devil’s chocolate cake) and gift cupcakes. 😦

No baking for fun this week cause my body’s aching, mentally and physically tired and it was raining. Postponing them next week!

Mama’s Orders

Mama had quite a number of orders yesterday. And for the first time since I came back, I went to help her for 11 hours. Mixture of main dishes and desserts; that explains the long hours!

We did the Apam Polkadots.

And brownies with all the drizzling and m&ms.

And the frosting of 100 rainbow cupcakes. I had to do this alone cause Adek was working yesterday.

Had a hard time frosting cause I haven’t been doing them for a long time. Mama used cream cheese frosting and since my hand is always unnaturally warm, the frosting always melt by the 3rd cupcake.

Thought of baking macs again soon! Cause Adek wanted a macaron tower since last year. :S Hope I make it in time for her birthday this year. I’m already 1 year late though.

Mama’s: Mambo Roll

 

Mama’s nutella mambo roll ready for collection for this year’s Eid.

I can only start baking after handing in my last assignment! Till then, happy baking & Selamat Hari Raya Maaf Zahir & Batin. 😉

Mama’s: Ensaymada Bread

Mama baked this delicious Ensaymada bread also known as Filipino Sweet Bread. Recipe taken from here.

Really nice combination between cheese and the sweet sugary taste. Ahh love it! Not surprising that I can eat them 2 (okay fine maybe 3) in one go. Definitely saving this recipe!! 🙂

Mama’s bakes

Mama was on her baking spree yet again. I noticed her bakes are all of the same colour hehe.

1) Kek Lapis Nutella (this was weeks ago!)

2) Mini Marble Cake

3) Cheese Brownies

4) Chocolate Bottom Banana Square – Recipe here

Mama’s: Kek Karamel Pelangi / Rainbow Caramel Cake

Don’t judge yet!

As you can see, I haven’t been baking for quite awhile.. I have been on the receiving end which is eating, heh. 🙂

Mama baked Kek Karamel Pelangi (which I translated to Rainbow Caramel Cake) yesterday. She found a new blog / new source of inspiration lately.

Recipe (including step by step) from: fromintankitchen And yes, this is the new blog I’m talking about. We’re always amazed with all these bloggers’ dedication! From their great recipe to their pretty pictures! I love the pictures the most! So many little details that play a part, you know?!

I doubt I can bake this hehe. For now, I’m enjoying every bite of the cake. I love caramel! ❤ I love eating. I love it when Mama is in her mood to bake! 😀

Now, I’m back to my diet (and work of course).

P.S. I still need to do something with my lousy picture taking skill, I know I know! 😉

Mama’s: Apam Polkadot / Apam Funky

Mama and I (ahem) made these Apam Polkadot / Apam Funky yesterday. So similar to coconut blossom and we even used coconut for the fillings. We have been seeing these apam everywhere from facebook to blogs!

Apam Polkadot (recipe from Rozzan’s)

Ingredients
3 eggs – straight from the fridge
275g plain flour
220g castor sugar
150ml milk
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ovalette / sponge stabilizer
fillings – blueberry / strawberry / nutella / coconut / etc
food colouring

Method
1. Add in all ingredients and beat with maximum speed (around 6-8 min) till fluffy.
2. Divide the batter and add food colouring accordingly.

Now you’re ready to do the piping!

3. Put in paper cup and pipe in the batter to act as base.

4. Then, add your fillings! Do not be too stingy. Heh.

5. Fill up the paper cup till 3/4 full to allow the batter to rise while baking later.

6. Now, let your imaginations run wild. 🙂

You can dot them (Apam dot dot, hehe), zig zag them, smiley face them!

Our pink and green colourings are too light for my liking. Purple is nice!

“Chicken pox” apam. My creativity is pretty much limited.

The outcomes – *after steaming them for approx 10mins with medium heat. Can see the fillings for some.. Maybe we didn’t put enough batter. :S

Dot dot is slightly difficult to do. Zig zag is way faster.

Can you see my expanding heart? ❤

🙂

// Edit

Hey Everyone,

I have just remembered this baking shop:
Ailin Bakery House @ Tanjong Katong Complex #01-48, 845 Geylang Road, (S)400845

If I’m not wrong, they do sell the red casing.

And! I went to Gim Hin Lee/Bake King @ Block 10 Haig Road and I saw green colour casing. They are selling it at $1.20 for 12 pcs.

If you can’t get them, you can perhaps try to steam the cakes using normal sturdy cupcake liners?