Can't Bear to Eat Christmas Sugar Cookies

Welcome to December! The holiday season is in full swing at my house. Baking and sharing cookies is a wonderful way to show how thankful we are for the special people in our lives. The last few weeks, I’ve been busy whipping up batch after batch of my favorite holiday treats for my clients and to share with people I love. While I might be picky about what kinds of sweets I make, I’m obsessed with a good and beautiful Christmas cookie.

When I began my cookie adventure, I only used cookie cutters to get my shapes. I didn't know much about how to hand cut cookie dough or using different cookie cutters to obtain the shapes I wanted. It was driving me crazy because everything I saw, I wanted to make into a cookie.

The world is full of cookie inspiration but unfortunately, they didn't make a cutter for everything we see. I have learned with a little practice and a freezer, we can cut any shape we need.

This cookie couldn’t be simpler to make. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “baker” you could make these with ease. With less than five ingredients, it’s one of those things that can be whipped together in mid-November, then kept in an airtight container until you’re ready to enjoy.

I also like to keep a batch on hand during the holidays in case we have friends stop over for an evening cocktail and we want a little nibble. Moreover, if you’re like us, and you’re family and friends live all over the country, these cookies are the perfect holiday gift to send through the mail. Because of their consistency, they hold their shape and ship beautifully.

After several weeks of hard work, I think it is time to rest. A little mid-afternoon indulgence, enjoy my cute christmas cookie with a cup of tea. Have a great holiday everyone... Hope you all have a nice break!

luv, Sandra

Let the Magic Happens!!! Merry Christmas All...

Fern Fuschia 3D Santa Christmas Cake (Santa body and the head made from a real cake)

Who doesn't love Christmas? A day of celebration, being with one's family, exchanging gifts, giving back, decorating the tree, Christmas music, cards, unique ornaments, amazing food, and the list could go on and on. 

As the year comes to an end, we prepare to bid it farewell by celebrating with our friends and loved ones.

A flashback of my childhood Christmas...

I really like Christmas day, although I am not a Christian. 
I always dreamed of having a huge Christmas tree, I set up the tree with the lights, we have stockings by the fireplace and also can feel and playing with the SNOW... (since I live in Indonesia, we don't have snow here :).

Olaf  the Cute Snowman 

I still remember, the best Christmas gift from my mom when I was 12 years old, which is a pretty big christmas tree (about 2 meters tall) - at least half of my dreams come true :P, 

I loved it so much. 

Every year when Christmast come, I was very excited prepared the new theme design for the tree.

Red Nose Reindeer

Growing up, my Christmas Eves were simple-and even not wonderful.
I had no longer understand what the meaning of Christmas. Advertising and red sale banners everywhere, people went to malls to buy goods that they may not need, simply because it's on sales and cheap. Everywhere so...crowded.

I prefer to stay at home, spent the rest of the day drinking hot cocoa, reading a great book under a blanket or making cakes/ cookies for family and friends than I had to squeeze onto the crowd.

Olaf looks cute from any direction

For me, the essence of Christmas is prepared prior to welcome the new year, reflect on what has happened in the current year, fix what can be fixed in the next year and always grateful with what we already have today.

The Chubby Santa

To my family and friends, thank you for your support during this time. Being a person who can make a living doing exactly what I want is the greatest gift all year ...It's already gorgeous and I LOVE you all...... 

Merry Christmas....



The image might be suitable for making a postcard :)

luv, Sandra

Dreams Become Reality "Peggy Porschen Cakes"

Visiting the Peggy Porschen Parlour has been a life-long dream come true.

It was a beautiful Sunday morning in London. After long hours flight, I've finally arrived. 

I had an amazing half day tour, seeing sights such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace & London Bridge. Our schedule was so tight. 

When I started a cake business 4 years ago, the first book I bought was a Peggy Porschen "Cake Chic". I greatly admired the beauty of her cakes, cookies and so curious to try and see directly. Whether the recipe same as she wrote in the book? How the taste of the famous cake?

But...I was dissapointed when I knew that the shop at Ebury Street was quite far from the hotel. 

I was afraid that I might not be able to get there.

Our tour schedule ended with 4 hours free time for shopping and dinner at Oxford road. My husband and I were very excited, it seems I was destined to go there. We jumped into the taxi and after few minutes I didn't believe what I've seen.... The unique pinkies building on the corner of the street, similar to what I've seen on the internet.

The Parlour

The Location at 116 Ebury Street

We took pictures from across the store. People were watching us.

To be honest, I was quite embarrassed... but we were both so tired, so we didn't really care at that point.

After finished took lots of photos, we entered the shop. The place is so much smaller that we thought. It sold a variety of items: books, cookies, cake stands, aprons, cookie cutters, drinks and of course the individual cakes and cupcakes.  

Royal Icing Cookies

Cookies were covered and decorated beautifully, very detailed with royal icing. All the cakes and cupcakes were very tempting, even the receipt was printed on a pink paper...so unique.

We've decided to tried her famous banoffee cupcake, strawberry champaign cake with capuccino and coffee latte for the drinks.

Cake, Cupcake and Beverages

We also bought 2 cookies and her new released cookie book for souvenirs (I loved the bag so much).

Beautiful Shopping Bag

Everything was amazing except the unfriendly waitress. Maybe it was because after 17 hours flight we had no time to took a bath and looked so messy??? No wonder...

Me and My Dream

Peggy Porschen also had her own academy which was located quite close to the cake shop, it could be seen from our seats.

The Academy

Personally the cake and cupcakes were too sweet (specially for the fillings and buttercream). 

Europeans tend to have a sweeter tooth than Asians. Asian people was afraid of sweetness, especially the young generation.Overall everything same as the recipes on her book; the texture, density and sweetness. 

How about the price?

The cookies price somewhat surprisingly. It cost twice as much than the price of the cake or cupcakes. It was 8.95 euro (IDR 135.000), quite expensive but it was taste great, not overly sweet, very detailed and well.... absolutely beautiful, to be honest...couldn't bear to eat it.

However, this was a pleasant journey I'm gonna miss you so much Peggy Porschen Cakes . I wish I could see you again maybe...someday...

luv, Sandra

UP Pixar Movie Cake

Amy created the SWEETEST UP-themed birthday party for her daughter’s birthday!

I am very excited to be a part of this project.
I remember reading all the reviews about this film, where they all gushed over this part, saying how amazing it was, how it would bring a tear to everyone's eye and so on...I remember thinking "Pfft, they won't get a tear out of me, how emotional could it possibly be?"
Then I saw it....I was sobbing my eyes out. :P

This was actually the best love stories without saying a word.

They achieved a happy life together. He gave her a wonderful life, despite not being able to have children and she made him happy as well. 
Life ends and he is sad that she has died. But I am sure he would do it over and not change a thing. But it is hard. And so many things can go wrong. 
But we all keep seeking our own happiness because that is all we can do to stay on this world.

Marble Cake with Chocolate Fudge Frosting

Marble has always been my favorite vintage cake.
Felling Blue? Cake will make it better :)

According to nutritionist (I did some research) apparently cake releases endorphins that make you feel a surge of pleasure and triggers the release of insulin into the bloodstream, which in turn clears out all of the amino acids in the bloodstream except for tryptophan. 
In the brain, Tryptophan is converted into serotonin. Therefore cake can also comfort by producing serotonin which is the happy hormone. 

And chocolate has been said to improve or heal a situation of sorrow and sadness. Chocolate usually makes people happy because they have caffeine stimulants known as theobromine which make you feel relaxed. They also have chemicals like anandamide which make you feel happy and joyful.

No wonder cake makes the world a happier place.

When we were child, life is a big adventure with exciting sights, sounds and smells.
For me, the smell of my mother's marble cake made entirely from scratch fills my heart with wonderful memories.

A marble cake is a cake with a streaked or mottled appearance (like marble) achieved by very lightly blending light and dark batter. It can be a mixture of vanilla and chocolate cake, in which case it is mainly vanilla, with streaks of chocolate.

Everyone had a favorite cake in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Chocolate and Marble Cake was, perhaps the most popular cake.
Mom never gave me the recipe, because she had lost it (actually she was never interested in baking).

The cake was moist with a nice crumb, and the frostings was silky and buttery.

Enjoy these recipes and I hope your desserts will bring warm family memories to your life.

Marble Cake with Chocolate Fudge Frosting
Yield: 12 servings
Active Time: 1 1/2 hour
Total Time: 2 hours

INGREDIENTS

For the cake

225 g Salted/ Unsalted Butter, softened
225 g Caster Sugar
4 Eggs
225 g Self-Raising Flour
3 tbsp Milk
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
2 tbsp Cocoa Powder

For the frosting
150g Icing Sugar, sifted
50g Salted/ Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
20g Cocoa Powder, sifted
20ml Milk
Few squares of Cadbury's Milk Chocolate, melted
(Note: If you are making a medium to large cake, simply double the quantity)

INSTRUCTIONS
For the cake
1. Heat oven to 180C/gas 4. Grease a 20cm cake tin and line the bottom with a circle of greaseproof paper.

2. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

3. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

4. Fold through the flour, milk and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.
5. Divide the mixture between 2 bowls. Stir the cocoa powder into the mixture in one of the bowls. Alternate the light and dark batters to create a rough checkerboard all along the bottom of the pan. Repeat with a second layer, being sure to place the dark batter on top of the first layer's light and vice-versa. Take the end of wooden spoon handle and swirl it through the batter (not too much), making rounded vertical zig-zags from one side of the pan to the other. Wipe the excess batter from the spoon. Repeat the swirling pattern in the opposite direction.

6. Bake the cake for 45-55 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Turn out onto a cooling rack and leave to cool. 

For the frosting

1. Beat the icing sugar, butter and cocoa powder together in freestanding electric mixer (Or use a handheld electric whisk) on medium/slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed.

2. Turn the mixer down to a slower speed. Add the milk to the butter mixture a couple of tablespoons at a time.

3. When the milk has been incorporated, add the melted chocolate.

4. Once all the chocolate has been combined, turn the mixer up to a high speed

5. Continue beating for about 5 minutes, until it is light and fluffy. The longer the frosting is beaten, the lighter and fluffier it becomes. Spread on the cake and enjoy!!!

NOTE
• The more you swirl, the less the cake will look marbled.
• Cake will keep for 3 days in an airtight container or freeze for up to 3 months.

enjoy :*

luv, Sandra