Japanese Strawberry Shortcake (イチゴのショートケーキ)

It's been a sad weekend. I mean, I had a great time at work on Friday in the afternoon, primarily because we had a carnival of some sort, and everyone basically just chilled out playing some simple childhood games, and nomming on ice cream, popcorn, candy floss and kachang puteh (the theme was "Childhood Carnival"). But, I had been feeling a lil under the weather since Thursday, so I reckon the activities on Friday just pushed me over the edge and I was seriously sick by Saturday morning. I must have gone through a whole tissue box, and my nose was still dripping like a faucet. Sigh.

Anyway, enough on moping. I made a strawberry shortcake again last month for the Dad's birthday (that's four straight years). Sigh. I know. And after all that I had said I wouldn't be baking it again this year...

 Japanese Strawberry Shortcake (イチゴのショートケーキ)

Strawberry Vanilla Almond Entremet

It's official. I've just turned a quarter century years old for about almost a week already. And man, do I...not feel much of a difference actually. In fact, I realise that the years just fly by so quickly ever since I hit 21 a few years back. What I definitely feel is, there is a change in how my body feels at the ripe "old" age of 25, as compared to say, a fresh young 20. I get tired way much easily nowadays. I could stay up late till the wee hours of 2am in the past, get only a mere handful hours of sleep, and still not be tired. Trust me when I say definitely can't do that now. I'll probably be zombie-fied and if I don't get a cuppa of coffee in me, I'll be half dead on my feet for sure.

ANYWAY. I digress. I had a really enjoyable birthday so far this year. I met up with friends for a birthday brunch the day before my birthday. The Sis and I went for a great lunch and coffee on my birthday itself (which was a Monday - but my workplace have a birthday day off scheme!) and I met up with a girlfriend for dinner. Then on the public holiday on Tuesday, I had a few girlfriends over for a homemade brunch party. And there are some more upcoming birthday gatherings...I'm blessed.

I was really fortunate on my birthday. First of all, I dropped $50 in a shop, but managed to find it when I retraced my steps. And second, when I was out shopping, I noticed I had a bleeding blister from the new shoes I was wearing. I asked my Sis if she had a bandaid, all the while rummaging through my bag to look for one. At the moment, the sales lady approached me, offering me a wet tissue AND a bandaid to clean up. That's just so nice of her isn't it?

Anyway, back to the cake at hand. I made this cake recently cos I wanted to use up the strawberry puree in the freezer. And also, because it's been pretty long since I last made an entremet.

Strawberry Vanilla Almond Entremet

Matcha strawberry shortcake

I decided yet again to make a strawberry cake for Dad's birthday. That's three times in three consecutive years already.

Matcha strawberry shortcake

Fresh strawberry tart

Clearing out the fridge can yield so many desserts. I'm frankly amazed at how many stuff I've made in the past month before the move using stuff that I've already had stocked in the pantry on "one of my various groceries trips". And I'm sure I'm not alone in this whole my-pantry-is-already-jammed-packed with this little bag of this and that little can of that and whatnots AND yet when I spot something new, it ends up in where else but my grocery shopping cart.

Fresh strawberry tart

Hugo & Victor's Victor Fraise Tart

I first saw it on the ultimate pastry website, Paris Patisseries, here. And when I happened to see it again later, on yet another website (recipe included), I knew that it was fate. I used to love hanging around (almost stalker-ish) the Paris Patisserie website cos of all the delectable goodies that the lucky Adam got to savour. I would look at the screen, gawking and drooling at the same time, wishing so badly that I could just hop on a plane to Paris to try the goodies myself.

While I couldn't exactly do that (though my lucky Sis did! - more on that in a while), at least I got to replicate a little something from Paris in my own little kitchen...

Hugo & Victor's Victor Fraise Tart

Strawberry shortcake

I was craving strawberry shortcake badly. I wanted to make my own from scratch, after my first attempt last year fell short of expectations (in looks and flavour). I scoured the net searching for a strawberry shortcake with a Japanese flair (I prefer the taste of a Japanese strawberry shortcake than the Western style ones). I found one that looked promising, and with that in mind, I crossed my fingers and started work.

Strawberry shortcake

Strawberry Shortcake

It was Daddy's birthday on Monday, I made a cake for him this year for his 51st! I compiled together different recipes to make the cake - the sponge cake from a website, the chantilly cream from a baking book, and the method of assembling it from yet another website.

This is my first ever whole layer cake, and I can't say it's that scrumptious (but hey on the bright side, at least I got some pretty decent pictures out of it! haha.). The sponge was alright on the top layers, but a tad dry and dense at the bottom layer. It could be that I overfolded the batter just a bit before baking. Bah. And it was a little tasteless on its own, it would have been nice if there was some vanilla or lemon zest added to the batter to enhance the flavour. But I learnt new stuff. So hopefully, my next layer cake would be an improvement!

Happy 51st Daddy and thanks for everything.

Pictures 13

Enjoy.

Lemon bars and brownies made about two weeks ago for well, Fiona's birthday.

210808 bento: Inari sushi, tomatoes, broccoli, miso chicken

220808 bento: Furikake rice, broccoli, grilled salmon and loads of water. I borrowed the interesting book from the library, but a pity I couldn't finish it in time before the due date...

Berries custard tarts which were so easy to make using frozen puff pastry. Simple dessert ready in less than half an hour (could be).

280808 bento: Beef rolls, steamed veg, bean sprouts, basmati rice and tomatoes

Woo Aa's friend bought her a big strawberry shortcake. We all had a slice. yums.

290808 bento: Brown rice, beef rolls, strawberries and orange.

Ingredients in making...?

Here's a clue...matcha powder...

Matcha cookies. (: For Silvia's 22nd.

I think I'm getting into that whole "k-let's-find-suitable-props-and-bg-deco-to-match-the-food-to-snap-pictures" mode.

It's lucky how the house has these petite elegant teacups and matching saucers. Jasmine tea and matcha cookies shaped in poker- card shapes.

Flowers

One of my favourite shots. What do you think?

030908 lunch: Canned salmon, tomato, butter lettuce on nine grains bread